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Espionage and national
security
By Sun News Publishing
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
The men of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Restore
Hope, in the Niger Delta recently arrested four Americans
and a Nigerian for alleged espionage in the creeks of the
Niger Delta region. The Commander of the JTF, Brig-Gen. Wuyep
Rintip, said that the four Americans were arrested along with
a Nigerian, Mr. Joel Bisina, in the creeks of Sapele in Delta
State.
Rintip further explained that the suspects were arrested because
they were found at a suspicious location in the Niger Delta
without the authorization of the security agencies in the
area.
Besides, the suspects at the time of arrest were said to posses
sophisticated gadgets which raised the suspicion of their
having ulterior motives. The JTF also opined that the expatriates
and their host violated the nation’s rules that require
them to seek clearance and protection from it before embarking
on the trip.
The JTF is also working on the theory that since the militants
were planning to kidnap 25 expatriates in Delta State, these
Americans would have unwittingly offered themselves as victims.
The suspects have been flown to Abuja on the orders of the
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Andrew Azazi.
The Nigerian, Bisina, is the National Co-ordinator of the
Niger Delta Professionals for Development, a non-governmental
organization. The group had reportedly spearheaded the search
for peace and development in the highly volatile region. It
was alleged that the ill-fated trip was meant to expose the
foreigners to the plight of the inhabitants of the region
with a view to attract foreign investment into the region.
Bisina, the leader of the group, said that their visit was
with the knowledge of the CDS. But, the military authorities
stoutly denied it saying that there was no record of any appointment
with the group or individual with the CDS.
The current espionage is coming on the heels of an earlier
one involving Dr. Judith Asuni, two Germans and a Nigerian.
They were arrested and arraigned on espionage charges, which
were later dropped, and the suspects released for want of
evidence. We hope that the present one does not turn out to
be a ruse like the previous one. We would want this matter
to be thoroughly investigated to unravel the veracity or otherwise
of this allegation. Let the investigation be thorough and
transparent so that no clues are left unexplored in this fact-finding
matter.
We are tired of allegations of espionage that would later
turn out to be a hoax. Such arrests in Nigeria have become
embarrassing and laughable considering their falsity and increasing
occurrence. Espionage matters bother on national security
and as such should be treated with utmost seriousness and
concern.
Espionage matters are not trifle that our security agents
would be making capital of. The issue of security should be
taken seriously in view of its obvious implication to public
safety. It is a fact that negligence of security reports has
caused nations avoidable agonies.
But we want our security agents to be careful in the way they
handle such matters. There is need to be cautious in reaching
conclusions in these matters.
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