BOKO HARAM THREATENS TO BOMB DEFENCE HEAD QUATERS

Written by Chris Agbambu and Okey Muogbo, Abuja Friday, September 9, 2011 THE armed forces are in possession of intelligence report that the Boko Haram sect plans to bomb the Defence Headquarters, popularly called "Boat House." advertisement Towards this end, the military has put additional security measures in place in order to forestall such an incident. Informed sources in the military disclosed to the Nigerian Tribune that the armed forces are not taking any chances about the threat, as movement is now restricted within the Defence Headquarters complex. Nigerian Tribune gathered that the Director of Intelligence in the Army, Navy and Air Force headquarters are now coordinating security arrangements at the Defence Headquarters and supervised by a Major-General from the headquarters. The source revealed that anybody coming to the Defence Headquarters complex must be on appointment from a senior military officer or else no entry for such a visitor. Also, the road by the gate of the Defence Headquarters has been blocked with military vehicles, with fierce-looking armed soldiers manning it. The source added that the military high command had consequently advised military officers within the complex to mind the type of visitors they invite into the complex. Nigerian Tribune gathered that additional security equipment to check vehicles and visitors have been acquired by the armed forces and have already been put to use. A top source at the Defence Headquarters told the Nigerian Tribune that "the military is the last hope of every Nigerian, and once this place is targeted, then the country is in trouble and that is why additional security measures are being put in place." Only one entrance is designated for the service chiefs and senior military officers into the Defence Headquarters which no private car is allowed to use. The source disclosed that the Boko Haram sect was boasting that since they had succeeded in bombing the Police Headquarters and the United Nations building, there was nothing preventing them from bombing the Defence Headquarters. Also, the exit gate at the Police Headquarters, which has been under lock since the bombing of the place three months ago, has been blocked with an armoured vehicle to prevent anyone launching an attack from there, just as it was done in the UN House bombing where the bomber drove through a disused entrance. 'Boko Haram'll not disintegrate Nigeria' The presidential adviser on Niger Delta Affairs and chief executive officer of the Amnesty Programme, Honourable Kingsley Kuku, in Abuja, on Thursday, said the activities of the Islamic group, Boko Haram, would not lead to the break up of Nigeria. Speaking on the implementation of the amnesty programme in the first 100 days of the present administration, Kuku said the crisis would be resolved without disintegrating the country. He recalled that the country had gone through similar, if not greater challenges since independence, from which it emerged even stronger. Kuku said God had been kind to Nigeria in the past, adding that he did not expect the Boko Haram insurgency to destroy the country. On the achievements of the amnesty office, Kuku said, "I wish to report to Nigerians that in the first 100 days of the Jonathan administration, the amnesty programme for ex-militants in the Niger Delta recorded profound successes; and, as a result, peace, safety, security and development are being consolidated in the Niger Delta." According to him, 19,000 of the total enrolled number of 20,192 in the first phase of the programme had been fully demobilised, having undertaken non-violence transformational training at the demobilisation camp, located in Obubra, Cross River State. The final batch of 1,192, according to him, would be demobilised this month, bringing to an end, the demobilisation component of the first phase of the programme.