Thank God that the Nigeria Security Agences are at an alert. But I must say that this is a serious threat to Nigeria.
The secret agency, the newspaper reports, says the abductions are slated to be carried out by Mauritanian terrorists.
Algeria is home to the Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, a group that has been identified by security agencies as providing both logistics and training to the violent Islamic sect in the North-East, Boko Haram.
In a recent interview, a Boko Haram leader had admitted the link between the sect and Mauritania, saying that several of its bomb experts and foot soldiers received training in the country. The leader had also said that some members of the group had just returned from Mauritania to launch new terrorist attacks.
The group, which issued a statement on Thursday, announced that it took the decision after a three-hour meeting held in the creeks of the region recently.
Two weeks ago, the militants had handed the government a 14-day ultimatum to meet some demands.
The demands included the payment of their monthly allowances and the recognition of some militants who embraced the amnesty programme by submitting their arms to the Kingsley Kuku-led Presidential Amnesty Committee. They had also demanded that the Federal Government should urgently probe the Presidential Amnesty Committee, describing it as a fraud.
"Except these modest requests are granted within the next 14 days, the Presidential Amnesty Committee should be ready for more face-offs and violent confrontations," the ex-militants had warned.
The statement issued by one General’ Keithy Sese, "the General Officer commanding all ex-militants on Phase 3,’’ claimed that the group had no choice but to resort to the use of violence, "the only language that the Nigerian government understands."
It warned "all multi-nationals and their expatriate workers to urgently relocate from the states of Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers as we will not be held responsible for anything that befalls people who refuse to listen to these modest directives."
My admiration for your comment Jagaban.