FBI takes over investigations, sidelines Police, SSS
By Adelani Adepegba, Femi Makinde and James Azania
Monday, 29 Aug 2011

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OPERATIVES of the United States’ domestic intelligence agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, have taken over the investigations of Friday’s bombing of the UN building in Abuja.


Sources told THE PUNCH that the FBI agents probing the bombing had sidelined investigators from the Nigeria Police and the State Security Service.


A source in one of the security agencies, who requested anonymity, said the takeover had the support of the Federal Government. The source added that the government might have lost confidence in the Police, SSS and other security agencies for their alleged failure to halt the bombings in the country.


At least 18 people died in the bombing of the UN building last Friday. The violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram, has claimed responsibility for the attack which attracted condemnation worldwide.


Although a few members of the police intelligence unit were said to be part of the investigation of the latest bombing in the federal capital territory, our correspondents gathered that the nation’s security agencies had indeed been asked to take the back seat.


Our correspondent gathered that there was grumbling among the top security and intelligence officers who felt “embarrassed and ridiculed” by the development.


Top security agents in the country also believed that the FBI’s efforts were bound to achieve little “due to the unfamiliar terrain and peculiar Nigerian environment.”


A senior police officer who spoke to our correspondent on Sunday attributed their skepticism to the failure of the foreign experts to provide tangible clues to past bombings in the country which they also investigated.


“FBI operatives and other foreign experts have been taking part in investigations into the bombings in the country from the October 1, 2010 incident to the June 16, 2011 Force Headquarters blast. Yet, they have not been able to provide any useful lead that could help us to apprehend the masterminds.


“Remember that after the two incidents, the team gathered some evidence from the blast scene which they took to their labs in the United States, but nothing has been heard about the result of the analyses till date,” the police officer said.


The security chief explained that the results of forensic analysis usually did not take more than 24 hours, adding that the nation’s security agencies had been kept in the dark since then.


On the speculation that the security agencies had advance warning of the bombing, the police officer said he was not aware, but added that security agencies would have foiled it if it was true that they had advance warning.


The Force Public Relations Officer, Olusola Amore, declined to comment on the development. He said he was on leave. When contacted, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Moshood Jimoh, also declined to speak on the investigation, stressing that releasing information might jeopardize the ongoing probe.


When asked if the investigators had traced the owner of the car that was used for the bombing, he said, “All I can tell you is that we are making progress in the investigation. I can’t reveal anything now because it may jeopardise investigations, but we have opened information desks at the UN building and Transcorp Hilton Hotel to help members of the public seeking information on their missing relatives and loved ones.”


The UN attack came on the heels of series of bomb attacks by Boko Haram which claimed to be fighting for the institution of Sharia, in the country.


Founded in 2002, the sect has been engaged in a bombing campaign targeted at hurting the Federal Government and its agencies. On June 16, a lone bomber suspected to be an operative of the sect attacked the Abuja headquarters of the Police. The lone bomber and one policeman died in the attack while 70 vehicles were either burnt or destroyed.


Boko Haram had also carried out a series of bombings in Maiduguri, Borno State, where the sect was founded, and in a number of Northern cities, attacking police facilities, military barracks and drinking joints.


On Sunday, in a release, INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K. Noble condemned the attack. He offered to issue the organisation’s colour-coded international notices to alert law enforcement around the world about the attackers’ modus operandi, to obtain additional information about individuals in relation to the investigation, and to seek the arrest of persons wanted in connection with the attack.


Meanwhile, Senator Babafemi Ojudu has said in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State on Sunday that the nation’s security agencies lacks the intelligence capacity to halt Boko Haram attacks.


Ojudu said it was worrisome that security agencies were always taken unawares on every occasion that the sect had attacked the country.


The Senator who described the attack on the UN building as an affront to the international community, asked the Ministry of Defence to sit up and justify the increase in its allocation.


He said, “It has become a pattern for authorities and security agencies to threaten fire and brimstone after attacks, but so far no meaningful progress has been made.


“Security agencies should focus their efforts on preventing attacks on effective intelligence gathering in a bid to prevent the attacks; waiting for attacks to occur before swinging into action is a clear vote of no confidence on the ability of security agencies.”

http://punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201108292403178

FBI is not "taking over" investigations. They are actually "starting" the investigations cos there was nothing to "take over"! The police and SSS have been doing nothing but playing draft with Boko Haram. Incompetent crackheads.

Hmm . . . . and who is responsible for the incompetence of the Nigerian Police and SSS? Last I checked, the Federal Government . . , WOW . . . you mean the Federal Government is the reason why, even after all this time, we still have an incompetent police /security force?

Since every internal problem must be tackled by foreigners,
when will our political and leadership problems receive foreign personnel solutions?

Ovularia:

FBI takes over investigations, sidelines Police, SSS
By Adelani Adepegba, Femi Makinde and James Azania
Monday, 29 Aug 2011

View All (55) Comment(s)
Post Comment
Twitter
Send to friend
Share

OPERATIVES of the United States’ domestic intelligence agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, have taken over the investigations of Friday’s bombing of the UN building in Abuja.


Sources told THE PUNCH that the FBI agents probing the bombing had sidelined investigators from the Nigeria Police and the State Security Service.


A source in one of the security agencies, who requested anonymity, said the takeover had the support of the Federal Government. The source added that the government might have lost confidence in the Police, SSS and other security agencies for their alleged failure to halt the bombings in the country.


At least 18 people died in the bombing of the UN building last Friday. The violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram, has claimed responsibility for the attack which attracted condemnation worldwide.


Although a few members of the police intelligence unit were said to be part of the investigation of the latest bombing in the federal capital territory, our correspondents gathered that the nation’s security agencies had indeed been asked to take the back seat.


Our correspondent gathered that there was grumbling among the top security and intelligence officers who felt “embarrassed and ridiculed” by the development.


Top security agents in the country also believed that the FBI’s efforts were bound to achieve little “due to the unfamiliar terrain and peculiar Nigerian environment.”


A senior police officer who spoke to our correspondent on Sunday attributed their skepticism to the failure of the foreign experts to provide tangible clues to past bombings in the country which they also investigated.


“FBI operatives and other foreign experts have been taking part in investigations into the bombings in the country from the October 1, 2010 incident to the June 16, 2011 Force Headquarters blast. Yet, they have not been able to provide any useful lead that could help us to apprehend the masterminds.


“Remember that after the two incidents, the team gathered some evidence from the blast scene which they took to their labs in the United States, but nothing has been heard about the result of the analyses till date,” the police officer said.


The security chief explained that the results of forensic analysis usually did not take more than 24 hours, adding that the nation’s security agencies had been kept in the dark since then.


On the speculation that the security agencies had advance warning of the bombing, the police officer said he was not aware, but added that security agencies would have foiled it if it was true that they had advance warning.


The Force Public Relations Officer, Olusola Amore, declined to comment on the development. He said he was on leave. When contacted, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Moshood Jimoh, also declined to speak on the investigation, stressing that releasing information might jeopardize the ongoing probe.


When asked if the investigators had traced the owner of the car that was used for the bombing, he said, “All I can tell you is that we are making progress in the investigation. I can’t reveal anything now because it may jeopardise investigations, but we have opened information desks at the UN building and Transcorp Hilton Hotel to help members of the public seeking information on their missing relatives and loved ones.”


The UN attack came on the heels of series of bomb attacks by Boko Haram which claimed to be fighting for the institution of Sharia, in the country.


Founded in 2002, the sect has been engaged in a bombing campaign targeted at hurting the Federal Government and its agencies. On June 16, a lone bomber suspected to be an operative of the sect attacked the Abuja headquarters of the Police. The lone bomber and one policeman died in the attack while 70 vehicles were either burnt or destroyed.


Boko Haram had also carried out a series of bombings in Maiduguri, Borno State, where the sect was founded, and in a number of Northern cities, attacking police facilities, military barracks and drinking joints.


On Sunday, in a release, INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K. Noble condemned the attack. He offered to issue the organisation’s colour-coded international notices to alert law enforcement around the world about the attackers’ modus operandi, to obtain additional information about individuals in relation to the investigation, and to seek the arrest of persons wanted in connection with the attack.


Meanwhile, Senator Babafemi Ojudu has said in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State on Sunday that the nation’s security agencies lacks the intelligence capacity to halt Boko Haram attacks.


Ojudu said it was worrisome that security agencies were always taken unawares on every occasion that the sect had attacked the country.


The Senator who described the attack on the UN building as an affront to the international community, asked the Ministry of Defence to sit up and justify the increase in its allocation.


He said, “It has become a pattern for authorities and security agencies to threaten fire and brimstone after attacks, but so far no meaningful progress has been made.


“Security agencies should focus their efforts on preventing attacks on effective intelligence gathering in a bid to prevent the attacks; waiting for attacks to occur before swinging into action is a clear vote of no confidence on the ability of security agencies.”

http://punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201108292403178

"We will not relent to bring the culprits to book. I urge all law abiding citizens to go about their normal business, very soon, the long arms of the law will catch up with these unscrupulous elements and bokoharam will be a thing of the past"

If your can coin these words, you'll make an IG

Kobojunkie:

Hmm . . . . and who is responsible for the incompetence of the Nigerian Police and SSS? Last I checked, the Federal Government . . , WOW . . . you mean the Federal Government is the reason why, even after all this time, we still have an incompetent police /security force?

But you once argued stupidly that democracy equals good life and prosperity.What are you saying today.

Very pitiful. We Nigerians cannot even solve our own problems.

@Kobo, yes FG has failed woefully in terms of handling the security problem. It is obvious and nobody can deny it. The reason I say so is not the fact that we have these bombings but because no decisive action seems to have been taken till date.

efisher:

FBI is not "taking over" investigations. They are actually "starting" the investigations cos there was nothing to "take over"! The police and SSS have been doing nothing but playing draft with Boko Haram. Incompetent crackheads.

My God, you are so fugging funnny

I actually support handing over the governance of the entire nation to foreigners. Perhaps we may have some respite from our multifarious problems in Nigeria which have defiled local solution.

Daft Nigerian investigative operatives, they thought FBI will just act like that, these guys may gather informations and analyse them for more than 2 years before getting concrete evidences that will lead them to the suspects. Nigerian operative will go there, maybe see just a biro and decide to wipe the closet secondary school around the place down.
FBI owns the best laboratory equipment in the world to analyse crime objects. No common CCTV camera, no lead, no security knowledge that such a thing wants to happen and they want to investigate. who killed Bola Ige? etc

Not good

This is utterly shameful, It's hard for a Nigerian to hold his head high in these times. FBI, Che! Not even Interpol or CIA

Since we are selling every of OUR state own properties to BPE because we can not manage them any longer THEN we can then sell OUT police force to FBI BECAUSE TO ME THEY ARE BUNCH OF USELESS, COURSED N20 MERCHANTS OF DEATH. THAT CANNOT DO ANYTHING, THAN STAY ON THE ROAD TO COLLECT N20

i pray they should allow them to perform their duty without wrong information.
give them chance dont feed them your wrong information i beg.

ShipIt:

This is utterly shameful, It's hard for a Nigerian to hold his head high in these times. FBI, Che! Not even Interpol or CIA

WHAT ARE YOU SAYING. YOU BETTER NOT HOLD YOUR HEAD HIGH, BECAUSE BOKO HARAM MAY BOMB IT. THAT IS WHAT WE DESERVE WHEN OUR HOUSE IS NOT IN ORDER, WILL GOATS, SNAKES, RAT, SCORPION NOT EAT ON THE SAME DINNING TABLE WITH US?

olas2u:

But you once argued stupidly that democracy equals good life and prosperity.What are you saying today.

Your failure to comprehend what democracy really means at this point in your life is what is stu-pid in all this, my friend. Again, I will send you back to the books . . . go read . . . . wake up your critical thinking skills . . . I am of the belief that all humans have it . . . USE IT!!

This is an indictment of our yeye security operatives.

BREAKING NEWS FROM NIGERIA


The next episode of CSI: Miami  is now going to be shot in Abuja Nigeria and the title episode will be CSI: Abuja.  The cast will be made up of real FBI agents playing themselves.  However there has been an uproar by police and security personnel in Nigeria, who say that they are far better actors than the FBI agents, and that the arrival of the FBI cast, has "embarrassed and ridiculed" them.  However the Nigerian authorities say that there will be no going  back on the arrangements because they believe the filming will be good publicity for the country, and assist the development of the tourist industry.  They also said that Nigerian policemen, who have earned a well deserved reputation for harassing motorists and demanding bribes from them at thousands of road blocks around the country, will be providing security around the set.

                                                                                               -END-

ShipIt:

This is utterly shameful, It's hard for a Nigerian to hold his head high in these times. FBI, Che! Not even Interpol or CIA

habah bros don't you know that CIA has been in the country for sometime now. Maybe regular police on the street of America will join them later.

efisher:

FBI is not "taking over" investigations. They are actually "starting" the investigations cos there was nothing to "take over"! The police and SSS have been doing nothing but playing draft with Boko Haram. Incompetent crackheads.

You are very right. Imagine Nigerian Police and SSS mingled themselves together with area boys, agbero and boko haramist to smoke igbo, sending them out to collect illegal money from motorist thereby losing concerntration on their official assignment

kufreabasi:

You are very right. Imagine Nigerian Police and SSS mingled themselves together with area boys, agbero and boko haramist to smoke igbo, sending them out to collect illegal money from motorist thereby losing concerntration on their official assignment

GBAM TELL THEM

This is good, they can provide expert technical forensic capacity, as well as advanced interrogation expertise.

Does  the FBI have jurisdiction outside of the USA?
Only in very specific cases, according to:
http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2008/june/international_060308

Were US citizens injured or killed in the UN building bombing?

Why are we complaining now? This is fresh air 

Infact we need the USA's assistance in power sector, health sector, industrialisation sector, educational sector and all sectors except electoral sectors 

It could also be a basis to gather information for a future war if Nigeria decides to nationalise her oil. Iraq allowed the FBI, CIA UN investigators into their country and after some years when Sadam fell out with the Americans they used the info gathered to attack the country. GEJ is becoming too much of a stooge to the West. The events of last week led to the bombing. First the American AFRICOM Commander came here to make so much noise about partnering with Nigeria to deal with Boko Haram.
Secondly, we broke ranks with the African Union and decided to recognise Libyan rebels on behalf of NATO without condemning their violation of the UN resolution which we signed for a 'NO FLY ZONE' to kill Libyan civilians, assassinate political leaders and embark on regime change.

Even if GEJ wants to hand over the investigation to FBI, it should be done silently afterall the Americans with all their arsenal on ground have not been able to defeat nor even weaken the Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan.

Good. It is time the White house take over Asorock.

Let White house or 16 Downing street come and take over from aso rock pls!

Don't blame this move. The UN is their interest. We'd do the same if our agencies abroad were attacked, at least to some extent.

velo10:

Don't blame this move. The UN is their interest. We'd do the same if our agencies abroad were attacked, at least to some extent.

[size=15pt]ROFLMAO[/size]

We dont need any investigation. The Federal Goverment knows who their ring leaders are.
FBI/US army should overthrow that YEYE EBele Badluck.

We need a change of leadership. It is the FG that is killing Nigerians.

Federal Government claimed the sponsor of Boko-haram is untouchable, cannot be arrested.

I dont know when some group of people can become a god that the YEYE president can be worshiping.

They are just taking us for a fo0ooool.


What the heack r u investigating again, when you know the source ?

islamrules:

We dont need any investigation. The Federal Goverment knows who their ring leaders are.
FBI/US army should overthrow that YEYE EBele Badluck.

We need a change of leadership. It is the FG that is killing Nigerians.

Federal Government claimed the sponsor of Boko-haram is untouchable, cannot be arrested.

I dont know when some group of people can become a god that the YEYE president can be worshiping.

They are just taking us for a fo0ooool.


What the heack r u investigating again, when you know the source ?

Islamrules. Are you a muslim?