Security Operatives Arrest Six Over Supply Of Explosives To Militants
Fri Aug 05, 2016 09:00:am National
1.9K By sosa hills
The Federal authorities have arrested five security operatives and a company official believed to be selling bombs and other explosive devices to the Niger Delta militants.
a thorough investigation by the Federal Government revealed that the suspects and two companies operating in the region diverted 9,000 kilogrammes of high explosives and over 16,000 pieces of detonators in the area.
Monguno said that the revelation came from seven suspects who were arrested in connection with the incident.
Addressing a news conference in Abuja, the National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Babagana Mongonu (Rtd), said the suspects have been handed over to the relevant authorities for prosecution.
Although he did not name the companies, the NSA said that the detained suspects were five security operatives and storekeeper in one of the firms and his accomplice.
The NSA expressed anger at the unpatriotic acts and abuse of the goodwill of the government by the two sole manufacturers of fertiliser in Nigeria.
He said the government would not hesitate to withdraw their licences if they continued to sabotage the supply of fertiliser for local consumption.
Monguno said that his office conducted a discreet investigation into the incessant bombings of pipelines in the Niger Delta and discovered that commercial explosives and accessories were used for the attacks.
He said: "A detailed audit of the records of explosives, magazines and quarries in that region was conducted, which revealed the diversion of about 9,000kg of high explosives and 16,420 pieces of detonators for illegal use.
"The actors, including the store man of a major explosives distribution company in Nigeria, an accomplice and five security operatives have been arrested and handed over to appropriate authorities," he said.
According to the NSA, the resolve of the government to regulate the indiscriminate manner with which fertiliser was being imported into the country was aimed at checking the production of Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDs) used by terrorists.
He explained that the IEDs were developed mainly from certain grades of fertilisers with particular reference to some nitrate based types including Urea Nitrate (synthesised from Urea).
Monguno said: "The Office of the National Security Adviser in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development facilitated necessary importation of raw materials and also secured the distribution networks. This move was aimed at solving the national security problem on one hand by easing control of the items and on the other hand boosting the economy by encouraging local production."
A visibly angry Monguno threatened that the Federal Government would consider withdrawing the manufacturing licences of Notore Petrochemical and Indorama Eleme Petrochemical, two companies licensed as the sole manufacturers of the Urea blend of fertilisers in Nigeria, if they do not boost local consumption.
He said that despite the cumulative annual production of the two companies estimated at 2.05 million metric tonnes and Nigeria's estimated consumption rate of 1.1 million metric tonnes, bringing it to about 53 percent, the companies have been exporting most of their products.
The NSA said that reports of the activities of the companies showed that about 71 percent of the 2.05 million metric tonnes cumulative annual production was being exported to the detriment of our national economy. This has led to a "hike in the price of Urea based fertilisers in Nigeria with obvious implications on food security in the country," he lamented.
He warned that despite the rule of law which is not akin to anarchy, "this office will not hesitate to close and withdraw the operating licence of any company that exports products without first meeting local consumption. I must say at this point that the goodwill showed by the government should not be taken for granted.
"The fact that we are in a difficult and complicated situation in terms of our economy and security, does not mean that companies and individuals with vested interests will take the goodwill of this country for granted" he added.
a thorough investigation by the Federal Government revealed that the suspects and two companies operating in the region diverted 9,000 kilogrammes of high explosives and over 16,000 pieces of detonators in the area.
Monguno said that the revelation came from seven suspects who were arrested in connection with the incident.
Addressing a news conference in Abuja, the National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Babagana Mongonu (Rtd), said the suspects have been handed over to the relevant authorities for prosecution.
Although he did not name the companies, the NSA said that the detained suspects were five security operatives and storekeeper in one of the firms and his accomplice.
The NSA expressed anger at the unpatriotic acts and abuse of the goodwill of the government by the two sole manufacturers of fertiliser in Nigeria.
He said the government would not hesitate to withdraw their licences if they continued to sabotage the supply of fertiliser for local consumption.
Monguno said that his office conducted a discreet investigation into the incessant bombings of pipelines in the Niger Delta and discovered that commercial explosives and accessories were used for the attacks.
He said: "A detailed audit of the records of explosives, magazines and quarries in that region was conducted, which revealed the diversion of about 9,000kg of high explosives and 16,420 pieces of detonators for illegal use.
"The actors, including the store man of a major explosives distribution company in Nigeria, an accomplice and five security operatives have been arrested and handed over to appropriate authorities," he said.
According to the NSA, the resolve of the government to regulate the indiscriminate manner with which fertiliser was being imported into the country was aimed at checking the production of Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDs) used by terrorists.
He explained that the IEDs were developed mainly from certain grades of fertilisers with particular reference to some nitrate based types including Urea Nitrate (synthesised from Urea).
Monguno said: "The Office of the National Security Adviser in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development facilitated necessary importation of raw materials and also secured the distribution networks. This move was aimed at solving the national security problem on one hand by easing control of the items and on the other hand boosting the economy by encouraging local production."
A visibly angry Monguno threatened that the Federal Government would consider withdrawing the manufacturing licences of Notore Petrochemical and Indorama Eleme Petrochemical, two companies licensed as the sole manufacturers of the Urea blend of fertilisers in Nigeria, if they do not boost local consumption.
He said that despite the cumulative annual production of the two companies estimated at 2.05 million metric tonnes and Nigeria's estimated consumption rate of 1.1 million metric tonnes, bringing it to about 53 percent, the companies have been exporting most of their products.
The NSA said that reports of the activities of the companies showed that about 71 percent of the 2.05 million metric tonnes cumulative annual production was being exported to the detriment of our national economy. This has led to a "hike in the price of Urea based fertilisers in Nigeria with obvious implications on food security in the country," he lamented.
He warned that despite the rule of law which is not akin to anarchy, "this office will not hesitate to close and withdraw the operating licence of any company that exports products without first meeting local consumption. I must say at this point that the goodwill showed by the government should not be taken for granted.
"The fact that we are in a difficult and complicated situation in terms of our economy and security, does not mean that companies and individuals with vested interests will take the goodwill of this country for granted" he added.
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