SAN FRANCISCO, December 23, 2013, (THEWILL) – Nigerian Army on Monday said the Apo killings of September 22 where eight persons suspected to be Boko Haram members were killed and many others injured in an uncompleted building at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja was an isolated case.
Describing the incident as unfortunate, Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Azubuike Ihejirika, said the military operation became neccessary in order to avert what would have amounted to collateral damage in the FCT.
Ihejerika stated this when he appeared before a panel set up by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to probe the extra judicial killings at the Apo legislative quarters.
The probe panel was in response to a petition jointly filed by a non governmental organisation, Global Rights, and the National Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria (NATOMORAS).
The Chief of Army Staff, who was represented by the Commander, Brigade of Guards, Nigeria Army, Major Gen. Emmanuel Atewe, said the military operation was part of efforts to rid the Federal Capital Territory of Boko Haram elements as well as ensure peace and stability in the country.
According to Ihejerika, the operation in Apo was based on a report from the Department of State Security alleging a planned attack by members of the Boko Haram.
“Between 18 and 19th of September, two persons were arrested in Abuja and they made useful confessions that there existed cache of arms hidden at Apo cemetery to be used in a planned attack,” he said.
He said based on the confessional statements of the suspects, the military went to the cemetery to uncover the weapons.
“It was in the night, the area was bushy and we could not navigate the cemetery and the suspects could not identify the actual spot where the weapons were buried. It was at that point the suspects said their leader, one Suleiman, if arrested, would show the spot where the ammunitions were hidden,” the Army Chief said.
The suspects, he explained, said Suleiman was residing in the Apo uncompleted building, adding that the intention of the suspects was to launch attacks within Abuja.
“It was on that premise that the team cautiously moved to the uncompleted building to arrest Suleiman. But unfortunately, as troops were deploying to cordon the building, the fire came, first it was a single shot before rapid followed. Under self defence, the troops returned fire,” Ihejerika stated.
He maintained that the DSS had a reliable information on a planned attack in FCT, saying the operation was necessary to avert the plan.
“The military operating in FCT are well trained in handling arms and have exercised restraint in the discharge of their duties. We have no reason to kill anybody dastardly or act under provocation,” he said.
He however insisted: “Apo is an isolated case and very unfortunate, the security agents acted pro actively to prevent collateral damage that may have taken place in Abuja if the planned attack had taken place.”
The Army also disclosed that the suspect, Suleiman, is still at large and the cache of arms at the Apo cemetery still undiscovered.
It maintained that efforts to rid Abuja of miscreants are still on going.
“We have carried out 153 operations successfully, made arrests and did not shoot anybody. The adversaries did firearm movement, they were firing as they escaped, a loaded magazine was found and from our records, it does not belong to the military,” he added.
Before the panel adjourned further hearing in the petition to January 2014, it granted an application by the SSS to move its sitting to its headquarters in order to protect the identity of their witnesses as requested by. Clifford Osagie and other officials of SSS, who cited security reasons for the application, saying they also have some exhibits to tender .
