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November 12, 2010
Arms seizure: Iran behind shipment – Security agents
Arms imported for 2011 elections, Importers hiding in Iranian embassy, FG summons Ambassador



Men of the State Secret Service, SSS, offloading crates of rocket intercepted at the Apapa Wharf in Lagos. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke


ABUJA — THE Nigerian government yesterday fingered its Iranian counterpart as the brains behind last month shipment into Nigeria of 13 containers loaded with weapons such as grenades and rocket which were intercepted at Apapa port by the State Security Service, SSS.



The Associated Press, AP, quoting from what it described as internal documents obtained from diplomatic circles, said Nigerian intelligence officials and diplomats have concluded that the Iranian government was behind a secret shipment of weapons discovered last month in shipping containers.

FG summons Iranian ambassador

The government has, therefore, summoned the Iranian ambassador in Nigeria.
An official at the Foreign Affairs Ministry who refused to be named told Reuters that “the Iranian ambassador has been summoned and he is holding a meeting with the Nigerian Foreign Affairs Minister. Part of the agenda of the meeting is the issue of the shipment of explosives and the visit of the Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki

An official at the Iranian embassy in Abuja confirmed that the Iranian Foreign Minister was in Nigeria but declined to comment further.

Meeting was productive – Ajumogobia

Nigerian Foreign Minister Odein Ajumogobia said he met his Iranian counterpart in Abuja to discuss the shipment.

“I had a productive meeting with the Iranian foreign minister this evening and he has assured us of his government’s co-operation in our ongoing investigation regarding the arms shipment,” Ajumogobia told Reuters by telephone.

A diplomat with access to intelligence on Iran told Reuters in New York that Mottaki had gone to Abuja to discuss the seized arms and to secure permission from the Nigerians to bring two Iranians linked to the shipment back to Tehran.

The diplomat, who spoke on condition that neither his name nor nationality be identified, said the two Iranians were at the Iranian embassy in Abuja and that Tehran appeared reluctant to have them questioned by Nigerian authorities.

Related News
M-East war: No distress calls yet from Nigerians in Iran — FG
Iran strikes: US issues security alert to citizens in Nigeria
Lebanon bans Hezbollah
According to agency report, immediately after the arms seizure, Israeli officials accused Iran of trying to sneak the shipment into the Gaza Strip, but Nigeria’s security service now believes the arms were imported by some local politicians to destabilise Nigeria if they lose in the coming general elections.

The cargo that was shipped from an Iranian port was listed as building materials but when the 13 containers were opened at Nigeria’s main port in Lagos, inspectors found 107mm artillery rockets, rifle rounds and arms.

Contacted by phone, Iranian Ambassador Hussein Abdullahi declined to immediately discuss the allegations, telling AP he was meeting with Nigerian officials about the same issues. Previously, Abdullahi said there is no clear evidence linking his government to the weapons.

Nigerian investigators who followed a paper trail learned that Iran’s foreign ministry endorsed a Nigerian visa application for one of the two Iranians who allegedly shipped the weapons, saying he would work at the Iranian Embassy in Abuja.

The Nigerian government reports, seen by an AP reporter, identify Iranians Azimi Agajany and Sayed Akbar Tahmaesebi as the men who organized the shipment through a Tehran_based company called International Trading and General Construction.

Nigerian officials suspect the two men are currently hiding inside the Iranian Embassy in Abuja.
According to the reports, Agajany received a visa to travel to Nigeria after getting an endorsement from Sheikh Ali Abbas Othman, also known as Abbas Jega, a Nigerian who worked for Radio Tehran’s Hausa language service and studied in Iran. Jega has been arrested by the State Security Service, SSS, a Nigerian government official told the AP.

Tahmaesebi received his visa after Nigerian authorities received a letter of recommendation from Iran’s foreign ministry that said he would “provide administrative support” at its Abuja embassy, the reports say. The two Iranians remain at large.
Importers hiding in Iranian embassy

“We strongly believe they are hiding in the embassy but we cannot prove it,” the Nigerian official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the diplomatic sensitivity of the reports. Embassies are considered to be sovereign territory, not subject to searches by the host country.

Displaying a lack of knowledge about Nigeria’s geography, Agajany initially wanted the consignments shipped to Abuja, the documents said. When Agajany was told there is no port in Abuja, which lies hundreds of kilometers from the coast, he came up with Lagos as the destination.

CMA CGM, an international cargo shipper based in France, has said one of its cargo ships picked up the shipping containers from Bandar Abbas, a port in southern Iran. The company said the shipment, which stopped in Mumbai’s port before heading to Lagos, had been labeled as “packages of glass wool and pallets of stone.”

The containers sat at Lagos’ busy Apapa port from July until October 26, when Nigerian security agents carried out a raid and discovered the weapons inside.

Newsmen who went to the port after the raid saw 107mm artillery rockets, rifle rounds and other items labelled in English. The rockets can accurately hit targets more than five miles (8.5 kilometres) away with a 40_foot (12_metre) killing radius.

Insurgents in Afghanistan and Iraq have used similar rockets against U.S. troops. China, the United States, and Russia manufacture versions of the rocket, as does Iran.


Immediately after the arms seizure, Israeli officials accused Iran of trying to sneak the shipment into the Hamas_controlled Gaza Strip. Nigerian officials instead believe the weapons were to remain in Nigeria where presidential elections that could be intensely contested are scheduled to be held early next year

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/11/arms-seizure-iran-behind-shipment-security-agents/

Nlfpmod Nlfpmod

Very demonic country

I am not surprised..

Jonathan threw them under the bus, then Buhari came and embraced them.

Funny that some ignorant people In Nigeria are supporting Iran. How can you claim to love Nigeria as an entity, and at the same time time cheering the same country that wants to destroy you?

Isn’t that madness and political blindness ?

Nlfpmod

Iran sympathizers, you see the people you are supporting?
They are bringing terrorism into your country. And yet you support them blindly with your full chest. Nigeria is in trouble

I talk am here before, Iran dey sponsor most terrorism in Nigeria, people just dey shout.
However, let's US deal with them first, let's check something.

Jonathan really tried to keep peace in Nigeria, but some evil terrorist and their sympathizers would have terror anytime of the day. I don't understand why some people are supporting these terrorist.

Omowale2023:
Nlfpmod

Iran sympathizers, you see the people you are supporting?
They are bringing terrorism into your country. And yet you support them blindly with your full chest. Nigeria is in trouble

Those weapons are for supporting Jihad and islamizing Nigeria.

And they have succeeded to a large extent.

Well and now that they would've really benefited from their years of sowing bad seeds as the bad seeds are now in power.......Divinity caused US and Israel to rain asunder upon them. .

Make Una shift. Did Iran do as much as what Saudi Arabia and Turkey are currently doing in Nigeria? The major terrorist cells in Nigeria were they trained in Iran? Is Iran behind that? Your NSA is alleged to have imported very deadly chemicals into the country, na Iran give am dat one too?

This is not a secret, Iran believed they will rule the world by sponsoring proxy terrorist groups around the world to defend and support their Islamic cause. Their long term plan was to displace Saudi Arabia as the headquarters of Muslims, and then eliminate Israel and become the regional power in MiddleEast and from there begin to sponsor terrorists to be attacking US and her interest around the world.



Good a thing, Israel and US think beyond now unlike Europeans and reason Europeans didn't last long as world superpower nations

saddler:
Those weapons are for supporting Jihad and islamizing Nigeria.

And they have succeeded to a large extent.

Yes they have, let me put a number to it - 73%

Tell that to nap.tu2 the man who sees nothing bad in LASU awarding a degree to a DSS undercover officer in six days but sees something bad in a journalist getting same certificate in six months from Benin Republic.

LASU has been lost to the islamic brotheehood long ago. A school where they force future Lawyers to write PBUH for one prophet from arab. Is that one still a school?

franchasng:
This is not a secret, Iran believed they will rule the world by sponsoring proxy terrorist groups around the world to defend and support their Islamic cause. Their long term plan was to displace Saudi Arabia as the headquarters of Muslims, and then eliminate Israel and become the regional power in MiddleEast and from there begin to sponsor terrorists to be attacking US and her interest around the world.



Good a thing, Israel and US think beyond now unlike Europeans and reason Europeans didn't last long as world superpower nations

Just as in the days of Esther in OT.

Naptu2, what's your take on this?

An Evil Satanic Country, They Deserve What They Are Getting In 100 Fold, Even Animals Should Not Be Spared

Who doesn't know before now that Iran is a state sponsor of terror..

I am a Proud Eealist I don't do religion but truth most be told... Islam is not a religion at least to its leaders it's a political tool

Israel- Palestinian conflict would end the day Palestinians accept Israel right to exist

A piece of land occupied by jews and Arabs brought in by ottomans
They gave Arabs Jordan, part of Syria, west banks and Gaza... Only gave jews Israel
But greedy Arabs keep attacking Israel and keep losing more lands in war... Then go around Complaining that Israel is taking their land


If Muslim Nations have the military might of Christian nations and Christians have the might of Muslim Nations... Would Muslims have been this benevolent to Christians?

The hypocrisy of Muslims annoys me I'm sorry

johnbuck81:
Jonathan really tried to keep peace in Nigeria, but some evil terrorist and their sympathizers would have terror anytime of the day. I don't understand why some people are supporting these terrorist.

The mistake people make is this you don't make peace with Muslim fanatics... You either subue them or they conquer you...if they ask for peace just know they are regrouping

I dare anyone to show me in history where a group with expanding Muslims worked

Islam is not a religion, it's a political expansion tool, until people get this their won't be peace... The few who practice islam as religion are mere pawns brain washed for PR jobs without knowing it

mrvitalis:
The mistake people make is this you don't make peace with Muslim fanatics... You either subue them or they conquer you...if they ask for peace just know they are regrouping

I dare anyone to show me in history where a group with expanding Muslims worked

Islam is not a religion, it's a political expansion tool, until people get this their won't be peace... The few who practice islam as religion are mere pawns brain washed for PR jobs without knowing it

The reason why I will always support Trump.

CyynthiaKiss:
VANGUARD NEWS
Search for:
HOME
NEWS
E-EDITIONS
POLITICS
METRO
BUSINESS
SPORTS
EDITORIAL
COLUMNS
ALLURE
HEADLINES
November 12, 2010
Arms seizure: Iran behind shipment – Security agents
Arms imported for 2011 elections, Importers hiding in Iranian embassy, FG summons Ambassador



Men of the State Secret Service, SSS, offloading crates of rocket intercepted at the Apapa Wharf in Lagos. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke


ABUJA — THE Nigerian government yesterday fingered its Iranian counterpart as the brains behind last month shipment into Nigeria of 13 containers loaded with weapons such as grenades and rocket which were intercepted at Apapa port by the State Security Service, SSS.



The Associated Press, AP, quoting from what it described as internal documents obtained from diplomatic circles, said Nigerian intelligence officials and diplomats have concluded that the Iranian government was behind a secret shipment of weapons discovered last month in shipping containers.

FG summons Iranian ambassador

The government has, therefore, summoned the Iranian ambassador in Nigeria.
An official at the Foreign Affairs Ministry who refused to be named told Reuters that “the Iranian ambassador has been summoned and he is holding a meeting with the Nigerian Foreign Affairs Minister. Part of the agenda of the meeting is the issue of the shipment of explosives and the visit of the Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki

An official at the Iranian embassy in Abuja confirmed that the Iranian Foreign Minister was in Nigeria but declined to comment further.

Meeting was productive – Ajumogobia

Nigerian Foreign Minister Odein Ajumogobia said he met his Iranian counterpart in Abuja to discuss the shipment.

“I had a productive meeting with the Iranian foreign minister this evening and he has assured us of his government’s co-operation in our ongoing investigation regarding the arms shipment,” Ajumogobia told Reuters by telephone.

A diplomat with access to intelligence on Iran told Reuters in New York that Mottaki had gone to Abuja to discuss the seized arms and to secure permission from the Nigerians to bring two Iranians linked to the shipment back to Tehran.

The diplomat, who spoke on condition that neither his name nor nationality be identified, said the two Iranians were at the Iranian embassy in Abuja and that Tehran appeared reluctant to have them questioned by Nigerian authorities.

Related News
M-East war: No distress calls yet from Nigerians in Iran — FG
Iran strikes: US issues security alert to citizens in Nigeria
Lebanon bans Hezbollah
According to agency report, immediately after the arms seizure, Israeli officials accused Iran of trying to sneak the shipment into the Gaza Strip, but Nigeria’s security service now believes the arms were imported by some local politicians to destabilise Nigeria if they lose in the coming general elections.

The cargo that was shipped from an Iranian port was listed as building materials but when the 13 containers were opened at Nigeria’s main port in Lagos, inspectors found 107mm artillery rockets, rifle rounds and arms.

Contacted by phone, Iranian Ambassador Hussein Abdullahi declined to immediately discuss the allegations, telling AP he was meeting with Nigerian officials about the same issues. Previously, Abdullahi said there is no clear evidence linking his government to the weapons.

Nigerian investigators who followed a paper trail learned that Iran’s foreign ministry endorsed a Nigerian visa application for one of the two Iranians who allegedly shipped the weapons, saying he would work at the Iranian Embassy in Abuja.

The Nigerian government reports, seen by an AP reporter, identify Iranians Azimi Agajany and Sayed Akbar Tahmaesebi as the men who organized the shipment through a Tehran_based company called International Trading and General Construction.

Nigerian officials suspect the two men are currently hiding inside the Iranian Embassy in Abuja.
According to the reports, Agajany received a visa to travel to Nigeria after getting an endorsement from Sheikh Ali Abbas Othman, also known as Abbas Jega, a Nigerian who worked for Radio Tehran’s Hausa language service and studied in Iran. Jega has been arrested by the State Security Service, SSS, a Nigerian government official told the AP.

Tahmaesebi received his visa after Nigerian authorities received a letter of recommendation from Iran’s foreign ministry that said he would “provide administrative support” at its Abuja embassy, the reports say. The two Iranians remain at large.
Importers hiding in Iranian embassy

“We strongly believe they are hiding in the embassy but we cannot prove it,” the Nigerian official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the diplomatic sensitivity of the reports. Embassies are considered to be sovereign territory, not subject to searches by the host country.

Displaying a lack of knowledge about Nigeria’s geography, Agajany initially wanted the consignments shipped to Abuja, the documents said. When Agajany was told there is no port in Abuja, which lies hundreds of kilometers from the coast, he came up with Lagos as the destination.

CMA CGM, an international cargo shipper based in France, has said one of its cargo ships picked up the shipping containers from Bandar Abbas, a port in southern Iran. The company said the shipment, which stopped in Mumbai’s port before heading to Lagos, had been labeled as “packages of glass wool and pallets of stone.”

The containers sat at Lagos’ busy Apapa port from July until October 26, when Nigerian security agents carried out a raid and discovered the weapons inside.

Newsmen who went to the port after the raid saw 107mm artillery rockets, rifle rounds and other items labelled in English. The rockets can accurately hit targets more than five miles (8.5 kilometres) away with a 40_foot (12_metre) killing radius.

Insurgents in Afghanistan and Iraq have used similar rockets against U.S. troops. China, the United States, and Russia manufacture versions of the rocket, as does Iran.


Immediately after the arms seizure, Israeli officials accused Iran of trying to sneak the shipment into the Hamas_controlled Gaza Strip. Nigerian officials instead believe the weapons were to remain in Nigeria where presidential elections that could be intensely contested are scheduled to be held early next year

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/11/arms-seizure-iran-behind-shipment-security-agents/

Nlfpmod Nlfpmod

Nlfpmod Nlfpmod

FreeStuffsNG
FSBoperator


The Iran that you support..

johnbuck81:
The reason why I will always support Trump.

You actually think Trump CARES about you?

Chai...

Dude, even a goat in the village knows that Trump does what is good for Trump and nobody else.

If you're black and you disagree with him, he'll get racist and post monkey and gorilla images of you like he did Barack Obama and his wife.

Death ☠️ all Islamic terrorists anywhere in the world, including those in northern Nigeria.

I'm not surprised. Any insurgency that lasted more than 24hrs, the government is involved

God bless Donald Trump! God bless America!

Bahari and the APC really do this nation so much evil. God it will never be well with these terrorists and their supporters in the Islamic world.

So in 2015, Tinubu and Amaechi sponsored Buhari to be president for their selfish interests knowing fully well that the Dullarrd was an extremist who was romancing with Ayatollah.

The Fench company that loaded it claimed they were duped.

Abeg, rest.

Oho, so now it is Iran not China/USA/France or the Northern Nigeria, ko? Y'all keep shifting the red flag anytime it suits your narrative. To curse you out is even too good for you. Continue, ya heard? 🚶🚶

mrvitalis:
I am a Proud Eealist I don't do religion but truth most be told... Islam is not a religion at least to its leaders it's a political tool

Israel- Palestinian conflict would end the day Palestinians accept Israel right to exist

A piece of land occupied by jews and Arabs brought in by ottomans
They gave Arabs Jordan, part of Syria, west banks and Gaza... Only gave jews Israel
But greedy Arabs keep attacking Israel and keep losing more lands in war... Then go around Complaining that Israel is taking their land


If Muslim Nations have the military might of Christian nations and Christians have the might of Muslim Nations... Would Muslims have been this benevolent to Christians?

The hypocrisy of Muslims annoys me I'm sorry

Must you apologize for existing?!
Fact is - you spoke the truth everyone knows but only few are bold enough to speak.
Any Religion that involve fighting wars to gain validation and wins convert has always been a guise for political expansion and dominance. Uncorrupted religion at it's core believes selected few are worthy to be called a convert!
Difference between the West and Arab is - one has long learn to separate politics from religion while the other feels they came late to the party, and just don't know where to draw the line!