FG tackles ISIS threat

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Following intelligence reports that the extremist Islamic State of Iraq and Syria is making frantic moves to recruit Nigerian youths, the Federal Government has taken a decision to restrict Nigerians from travelling to Iraq, Syria and other volatile countries in the Middle East.

SUNDAY PUNCH also reliably gathered on Friday that intelligence agencies such as the Defence Intelligence Agency and the Nigerian Intelligence Agency had issued an international warning, requesting that other countries should refuse visa to Nigerians going to war-ravaged countries in the Middle East.

This would make it almost possible for Nigerians to get a visa from the country to any of the countries listed under the restriction alert in the Middle East.

Similarly, Sunday PUNCH learnt that the screening of inbound international passengers at major airports in the country had been intensified in the past one week. Airports where such screenings are being carried out include those in Kano, Lagos and Abuja.

It was learnt that apart from the bomb detectors used for all passengers, movements of some citizens of some Middle East countries were monitored right from their arrival in the country.

Senior aviation security officials who spoke to our correspondents noted that the recent security alert by the Coordinator of the National Information Centre, Mr. Mike Omeri, had been taken seriously.

Omeri, in a statement on Tuesday, had said that agents of ISIS were in the country to recruit Nigerian youths to fight for the terrorist group.

In a statement signed by his Special Adviser, David Okoji, Omeri said three South Africans were among fighters recruited by ISIS under the guise of humanitarian support groups for refugees in Nigeria.

Speaking in a telephone interview with one of our correspondents in Abuja on Friday, Omeri confirmed that three South Africans had been hired to recruit young fighters for ISIS from Africa.

He said, “This is why we are alerting Nigerians to beware. They could come in the name of offering scholarships, visas or recruitment into international humanitarian organisations. Young Nigerians should be wary of such offers because they would come through subtle means.

“We are raising the alarm so that no Nigerian would fall victim. This is security information from highly dependable sources. Government agencies have been put on the alert and if any of them is not aware, they should please ensure that they put the necessary measures in place to thwart the effort.”

Omeri said government would work with foreign and international bodies to frustrate any effort to recruit young Africans, especially Nigerians to fight for the terrorist organisation, ISIS.

He also disclosed that NOA would explore the existing structures it had in the states to ensure that the campaign went down to the grass roots through traditional institutions and authorities.

It was learnt that although flights from Syria and Iraq hardly came into Nigeria, especially since the crisis in the countries, passengers from the Middle East nations were under surveillance.

An official with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, who pleaded anonymity, said, “Nothing seems to be impossible nowadays but if they (ISIS) are in Nigeria, they must have passed through our land borders, which are porous. We have however increased the intensity of our passenger screening.”

A top aviation security officer, who also pleaded anonymity, said, “Apart from the regular screening through the security doors and bomb detectors, we monitor movements and gestures of travellers.

“Any move that is unusual will be checked immediately.”

Speaking further on the visa ban on Nigerians who wish to travel to the Middle-East, another top security officer said, “There is the issue of recruitment of terrorists within the country as shown by the story of the 13-year-old suicide bomber in Kano, whose father was said to have forced her into the act.

“The security agencies have issued a visa refusal request to embassies to prevent Nigerians from travelling to such countries.

“The situation now is such that if you are a Nigerian and you try to get a visa from anywhere to those countries, you will attract serious suspicion and you would be questioned rigorously.

“It may be possible in some cases for you to travel without visa within Africa but it is impossible for you to travel outside the continent without one.”

The Syrian Embassy could not be reached for comments as calls made to the mission’s mobile line failed to connect. Also, an email to the embassy did not elicit any response.

Efforts to get the Iraqi embassy to speak on its alleged visa restrictions to Nigerians was abortive. Repeated calls to the embassy mobile line went unanswered. An email that was sent to its mail box, failed to deliver.

Caution your children, Military tells parents

The Director, Defence Information, Maj.-Gen Chris Olukolade, has urged parents and organisations in the country to observe a high degree of vigilance to foil any plot by terrorist groups to recruit unsuspecting youths to carry out their activities.

He said, “All parents and organisations in the country must maintain a high degree of vigilance against the plot and caution the youths against getting involved.

“The security agencies are already on the watch to frustrate the evil design. No information will be ignored; all hands must equally be on deck.”

A top government official, who spoke to one of our correspondents on the condition of anonymity, said Omeri’s statement should make Nigerians be on the alert.

He said the alert was necessary, following the discovery that ISIS was recruiting from African countries through the Internet.

He added that the government felt it was necessary to warn Nigerians, especially the youths, so that they don’t fall into terrorists’ trap unknowingly.

The government official said, “What the Defence Department has done is a trend analysis of what is happening. It is on the basis of this that they are advising parents to be vigilant and to educate their children not to fall into the trap of the terrorists and get recruited without knowing what it is all about.”

Efforts to know what the Department of State Services was doing to thwart the alleged moves by ISIS to recruit Nigerians did not succeed as calls to its spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar, were not responded to.

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FG tackles ISIS threat