Top Federal Government officials are now curious over how the Boko Haram suspect, Ali Tishau, who was released from police custody on bail, appeared on a local television station interview programme to castigate the government some days ago.

Reliable sources told Saturday Tribune that the authorities have set up a powerful machinery to investigate how Tishau was released  without an official consent.

According to the sources, the investigation, would culminate in a major shake-up in the law enforcement agencies over the incident considered as embarrassing the government.

The source claimed the government was already aware that an arm of the security services allegedly orchestrated the interview in order to make the government look as if it was not doing anything to address the Boko Haram issue.

Tishau, who spoke on behalf of the sect on their alleged grievances and what government should do to assuage them, was arrested by the police on December 20, 2010 and detained for interrogation.

Consequently, he was charged to Wuse Chief Magistrate Court One on March 28, 2011 and granted bail, and again arraigned before a Federal Capital Territory High Court Abuja on May 7, 2011 and granted bail.

The sources said that on each occasion that the suspect was granted bail, the police had always re-arrested him on security grounds.

According to the sources, the matter assumed a new twist when one of the chiefs of a security agency requested the police to release him to them on June 27, 2011, to enable them conclude their investigation on the suspect.

The request was reportedly granted by the Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim on July 7, 2011, with a proviso that the suspect should be returned to the police in line with normal practice among security agencies.

However, the police hierarchy was shocked that the suspect was never returned to the police only to see him being interviewed on the TV station purportedly organised by one of the security agencies.

But police in their reaction through the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Olusola Amore, said the police did not hide bomb warnings from presidency as claimed by the suspect during the interview.

He said there was no iota of truth in the claim that the self-acclaimed Boko Haram member had given useful information to the police on the spate of bombings that occurred recently.

He said the suspect had been requested for on June 27, 2011 and released on July 7, to a sister organisation for investigation in the spirit of information and intelligence sharing, but that the suspect had not been returned to the police.

The force spokesman disclosed that the alleged panic among security chiefs was a figment the writer’s imagination as the security agencies were building synergy to contain the present security challenges facing the nation.

Meanwhile in continuation of the efforts of the police to combat the illegal movement of arms and ammunition, as well as  illegal movement of immigrants along Nigerian border with Niger and other countries, the IGP has held a meeting at the Force Headquarters. It was attended by officials of the Customs, Immigration, State Security Services and our sister security agencies from Niger Republic.

In another development, trade groups and industrialitsts have expressed concern over the  spate of bombings, kidnappings and other social vices in the country stating that they were capable of driving away potential investors from Nigeria.

Acting President of the Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists, (NASSI) Dr Albert Olajide Akinyemi, condemned the bomb attacks, stressing that they were capable of scaring away foreign investors.

He frowned on the security lapses and urged President  Goodluck Jonathan to call the heads of all the security agencies in the nation to check the insecurity  as it was a devastating effect on our economy.

“There must be peace and tranquillity in the polity before individuals would think of investing in business and enterprises that could create jobs and employment for the teeming unemployed youths in the country “the  NASSI president said.

Akinyemi equally called on  members of the public to cooperate with security agencies by reporting suspicious movements and suspected persons to the right quarters, adding that the security of our communities is everybody’s concern and duty.

Similarly, Chairman, Federal Capital Territory chapter of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Mr Joseph Akinteye observed that the current insecurity  would have negative effect on investment and thus slow down economic growth.

According to him, if most Nigerians are afraid of going from their homes to their respective offices due to the fear of bomb attack, one  could then imagine what would happen to foreigners coming to Nigeria for investment purposes.

The Director General, Abuja Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, (ABUCCIMA) Mr Joe Idowu Wenegieme also expressed fears. Wenegieme, who said ABUCCIMA, is planning to hold the yearly International Trade Fair next week in Abuja stated that “up till now, no single investor is on the ground.”


TRIBUNE

The blame game again!