There are strong indications that the Federal Government is zeroing-in on the controversial Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) over the three tranches of imported arms that had been seized in Lagos this year by the Nigeria Customs Service. All the arms came in through Lagos ports.
Even though all those who are in the know of the investigations, refused to be quoted, our correspondents in Lagos and Abuja confirmed that, just like the Comptroller General of Customs; Col Hameed Ali hinted last Monday while unveiling the latest in the series of such importations, security agencies have narrowed down their investigations.
They are currently investigating the relationship between the leader of IPOB; Daniel Kanu and the Turkey Ambassador to Nigeria; Mr. Abdulkadir Erkahraman.
One of our sources explained that it was not by accident that the CG of Customs disclosed last Monday that the Federal Government would explore diplomatic means to get to the source of the arms.
The source, affirmed that last week’s bombardment of the home of the IPOB leader was not unconnected with the discoveries.
According to him, before last Monday, there had been suspicion about the source of the previous cache of arms, one of which was intercepted after it had been cleared out of the port; the second was uncovered in the port.
Last Monday, the Customs boss had also hinted at the suspicion that there was more to the importation than met the eye.
He had told journalists that,: "Through the WCO (World Customs Organisation) which is a common platform for all of us as customs, and through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we have to begin to discuss with the Turkish government, because this is becoming too much for us to bear, we discovered after complete profiling that the importation all came from Turkey, I assure you we are going to take up the necessary steps to make sure that we tackle it at governmental level".
Ali also said that the seizures have shown the existence of a gun running syndicate with a chain of connections between the importers, customs officers and clearing agents in Nigeria.
Before the 1,100 pieces that recently came in, there had been 661 riffles which were intercepted and another batch of 440 pieces.
A senior Customs officer who pleaded anonymity also hinted our correspondent that the service has already been directed to hand-over full investigations into the arms importation to relevant security agencies. He didn’t name the agency.
But, specifically it was learnt that investigators have taken custody of various statements, correspondences and video materials linking the IPOB leader t the lethal imports, and that they are strong leads.
“Government is aware and in custody of Kanu’s speech at the Igbo summit which held in the USA in 2015, where he called on Igbos to gather resources and purchase weapons and ammunition to fight Nigeria”
“It has also been established that there is a clearing agent who has a license to clear light arms, Kanu’s group has been using the man, he lives in Lagos”, our source added.
Shipping Position Daily also recalls that, an Igbo group, the Southeast Professionals in Diaspora recently called for a probe of the Nnamdi Kanu-led IPOB. The group noted that the recent upbeat in the activities of the pro-Biafra group may be connected to the seized arms.
Similarly, government is said to be beaming its searchlight on the relationship between Kanu, Turkish ambassador to Nigeria; Mr. Abdulkadir Erkahraman and IPOB.
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