Osama bin laden: Military retains troops in Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, others
The military high command has decided to extend the deployment of soldiers to some states of the federation as a fallout of the killing of the leader of Al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, by American troops in Pakistan.
SATURDAY PUNCH investigation showed that the leadership of the military decided to extend the original time frame for the deployment of troops in states such as Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi, Borno and Katsina, which were host to the post-election violence that followed the April 21, 2011 presidential election because of the killing of Osama.
An intelligence source, who confided in our correspondent, said that the military leadership had anticipated a rampage by Islamic fundamentalists loyal to the man reputed to be behind the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon, which left over 3,000 people dead.
The source said that if not for the news of the killing of Osama and the subdued tension it had triggered, especially in the North, the soldiers who were deployed for internal security assignment during the elections would have been back in the barracks.
It was learnt that with the feeling in security circles that some groups, especially the Boko Haram and others, were uncomfortable with Osama’s death, an early withdrawal of the troops could pave the way for more violence in the North.
The source added that the country would have been plunged into another crisis if not for the readiness of security operatives to deal decisively with any unrest.
It was gathered that the murder of 10 corps members on election duty in Bauchi State and the public outcry that followed the acts were also said to have prevented fanatics opposed to the killing of Osama from carrying out any attack in the country.
On the effect of Osama’s death on the various fundamentalist groups in the country, the source said that the military would not jump into the immediate conclusion that such elements might not have the capacity to carry out attacks as a result of the death Osama.
The source said that while the death of Osama might have its impact, those in charge of security were not ruling out the fact that there might be individuals, who might be sponsoring and backing such incidents in the country.
He said, “Well, all I know is that the military has not and will not withdraw the soldiers who were posted out on election duty and contain the unrest that followed the declaration of President (Goodluck) Jonathan as the duly elected president of the country.
“I can say that those soldiers are still out there because of the killing of (Osama bin) Laden by the Americans in far away Pakistan.
“You know that both events follow each other closely. I mean the violence that resulted in the killing of those corps members and the death of Osama.
“If not for the public criticism of what happened in Bauchi and the fact that the issue is still on the front burner, maybe there would have been another rampage and wanton destruction of lives and property.
“Well, while one cannot rule out the fact that the death of Osama may weaken the operations of these people, it does not mean that they are out of circulation now. That is why the security agents are not leaving anything to chance.”
SATURDAY PUNCH investigation showed that the leadership of the military decided to extend the original time frame for the deployment of troops in states such as Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi, Borno and Katsina, which were host to the post-election violence that followed the April 21, 2011 presidential election because of the killing of Osama.
An intelligence source, who confided in our correspondent, said that the military leadership had anticipated a rampage by Islamic fundamentalists loyal to the man reputed to be behind the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon, which left over 3,000 people dead.
The source said that if not for the news of the killing of Osama and the subdued tension it had triggered, especially in the North, the soldiers who were deployed for internal security assignment during the elections would have been back in the barracks.
It was learnt that with the feeling in security circles that some groups, especially the Boko Haram and others, were uncomfortable with Osama’s death, an early withdrawal of the troops could pave the way for more violence in the North.
The source added that the country would have been plunged into another crisis if not for the readiness of security operatives to deal decisively with any unrest.
It was gathered that the murder of 10 corps members on election duty in Bauchi State and the public outcry that followed the acts were also said to have prevented fanatics opposed to the killing of Osama from carrying out any attack in the country.
On the effect of Osama’s death on the various fundamentalist groups in the country, the source said that the military would not jump into the immediate conclusion that such elements might not have the capacity to carry out attacks as a result of the death Osama.
The source said that while the death of Osama might have its impact, those in charge of security were not ruling out the fact that there might be individuals, who might be sponsoring and backing such incidents in the country.
He said, “Well, all I know is that the military has not and will not withdraw the soldiers who were posted out on election duty and contain the unrest that followed the declaration of President (Goodluck) Jonathan as the duly elected president of the country.
“I can say that those soldiers are still out there because of the killing of (Osama bin) Laden by the Americans in far away Pakistan.
“You know that both events follow each other closely. I mean the violence that resulted in the killing of those corps members and the death of Osama.
“If not for the public criticism of what happened in Bauchi and the fact that the issue is still on the front burner, maybe there would have been another rampage and wanton destruction of lives and property.
“Well, while one cannot rule out the fact that the death of Osama may weaken the operations of these people, it does not mean that they are out of circulation now. That is why the security agents are not leaving anything to chance.”
Leave a Comment