http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5626673-146/security_agency_blames_rain_for_failure.csp

Security agency blames rain for failure to stop blasts

By Ini Ekott




In a curious admittance of laxity, the State Security Service (SSS) has admitted that it received warnings more than 30 hours prior to last week’s Independence Day bombings in Abuja.

It, however, blamed the early morning rain for its lack of ability to nip the deadly acts in the bud. The twin blasts, which killed 16 people, have triggered concerns about national security alertness after the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) claimed it sent warnings to state agencies five days ahead of the killings.

Initial plot foiled

The SSS said on Monday that it nipped an initial plot scheduled two days earlier -Wednesday- by evacuating vehicles around the Three Arms Zone, but said the perpetrators “apparently” mixed with motorists to plant the lethal cars, during the Friday morning rains.

The SSS, in a statement yesterday, said, “On 1st October 2010, the Eagles Square and its environs were effectively cordoned-off and appropriate measures were put in place to prevent any untoward incident. However, the rain showers of that morning provided the leeway for double parking by motorists. In the process, the perpetrators apparently gained access to park on the road side as well.”

Henry Okah, the alleged leader of the MEND, was charged in South Africa yesterday for terrorism, in connection with the bombings. The SSS said it has made nine arrests so far, and all have direct links with Mr. Okah, the incident, and some “unscrupulous prominent elements”. It said the names of their sponsors would not be released since the investigations are not completed.

The statement, signed by Marilyn Ogar, the agency’s assistant director of public relations, said the SSS, with its head office about one kilometre from the scene of the explosions, received its first intelligence on the bombings, three days earlier -on Tuesday, September 28, 2010, about 1.30pm.

“As soon as the information was received,” the agency said, it foiled the initial plot, which was billed for Wednesday, September 29, to scare foreign dignitaries from attending the October 1st Golden Jubilee celebrations.

In the warnings it received, the Three Arms Zone, which hosts the Presidency, the National Assembly, and the Supreme Court, is said to have been targeted for bombings. The Service said it contacted the military, which provided three towing trucks to be combined with those of the SSS, for the removal of vehicles around the area.

The operations lasted from 2.15pm to 6.30pm Tuesday, and nine “abandoned” vehicles were towed away, the Service said. Of these, two were near the SSS headquarters, two facing the villa gate and the NASS, two close to the Louis Edet police headquarters, one at the Eagle Square, and two around Apo legislative quarters.

“It is worthy of note that out of the seven vehicles removed from the Three Arms Zone, four are yet to be collected,” the statement continued.

The operation later extended to the Federal Road Safety Corps, with a mandate to remove unclaimed vehicles in other parts of the federal capital territory. That lasted till October 1st morning, and saw the removal of 65 vehicles, according to the agency.

incompetence, lies and text messages

OH PUHLEEZE!! the excuses are now getting boring. . .

BTW what exactly does the SSS do?

Is the SSS some kind of CIA(collecting intelligence externally) or FBI(internal/external federal criminal investigation/prosecution) or are they the personal security guards of the presidency?

I don't get their official responsibility. I suspect the SSS is just another one of those military era security agencies that the civilian/military establishment ruling Nigeria since 1998 has failed to get rid of, hiding them under the official secrets acts and other security mumbo-jumbo decrees that does nothing but perpetuate the oppression of Nigerian citizens.

These yeye people should stop embarrassing us all over the internet with their silly excuses. . . Arrest the perpetrators already

I SWEAR I NO GO LIE

THIS IS THE REAL 24HOURS (season film) HAVE YOU WATCH IT

who IS JACK?
who is THE PRESIDENT
who is THE CTU.


PLEASE WE NEED THIS ON DVD/CD

NAIJA 24HOURS SEASON FILM.

Whoever released such a statement should be retired immediately alongside with his superior who permitted such madness.

the first seasonal film in nigeria

Rain indeed. If they witness the kind of rain wey Pakistan dey witness then we are all doomed

What a flimsy excuse

jabbok:

Rain indeed. If they witness the kind of rain wey Pakistan dey witness then we are all doomed

Exactly.

otokx:

Whoever released such a statement should be retired immediately alongside with his superior who permitted such madness.

SECONDED,,

Rain rain go away, Rain rain go away, come again another day, little children want to play! Msscheww!

blame RAIN, na wa oh!

the perpetrators were bizy working under the rain abi?

una go soon blame SUN too, no b only rain.

I'm not suprised, if they can arrest a goat in Kwara State, they can do and say anything. . . It doesn't cause any harm, all it does is make Nigerians look dumber and dumber

They don't have any excuse jare

Hehehehehehehe, dis our security agency go kill me wit laughter,dey dont even have a better excuse hehehehehe

I thought Okiro claimed some 2 years ago that all the CCTV in Abuja metropolis are functional. They need to view them now so they can see who planted those bombs.

Rubbish !
He should be ashamed of himself.

Wait until they blame climate change.

Nonsense. . .

Arrant nonsense

if a foolish man keeps quiet nobody will know that he is foolish. the people would have refuse to talk instead of babling. Rain ke, haha na wa o

Anyone going to the SSS headquarters to collect his/her car that they towed off is most probably going to get arrested immediately. That's probably why some of the car owners have not showed up to pick their cars yet

This is fast becoming a massive public ridicle. Wat part of their brain will permit such leakage? Are these people trained at all

A NITE OF TEN THOUSAND LAUGH

9ja we hail thee!
This is what u get when u put useless, incompetent nincompoops to guard your life,
Dont be surprised when u get excuses like "the reason we are unable to avert disaster is because it happened at NIGHT"
STUPID CRETINS!

WHEN WILL THESE CHARADE WE CALL NIGERIA END!

ITS ALL ACT OF NOLLYWOOOD

[size=16pt]Who are they deceiving? Weaklings [/size]

As this one no sell, they go disown am - If it did - them go hail the guy.

For the record, this official

;d ;d ;d ;d ;d

MR Money £:

ITS ALL ACT OF NOLLYWOOOD

act one scene two
pls next

Even if there was no rain nigerian police may blaim God. Nigeria police!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!