BEVERLY HILLS, CA, January 07, (THEWILL) – The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) panel probing the September 20, 2013 killings of eighth young men in an uncompleted building in the Apo area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja was on Tuesday informed that suspected members of Boko Haram met regularly in the uncompleted building where the youths were killed.
This gave credence to the position of the Army that the building was being used as a meeting point for Boko Haram members planning an attack on the city.
A suspect, Mohammed Adamu, confirmed this to members of the probe panel when they visited the building on a fact-finding mission on Tuesday, saying the group had actually planned to attack some government institutions in Abuja before they were busted.
Adamu also confirmed that one Suleiman now at large is the leader of the sect in Abuja , disclosing that they met three times in a week between 8pm and 11pm at the building to plan how they would defend their religion.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Professor Ben Angwe, said at the end of the visit that the commission would conclude its public hearing at the end of the month and would make its findings public, stressing that the public hearing would continue at the commission’s headquarters where more testimonies would be taken.
The Nigerian Army had on December 22, 2013 defended its action in killing the eight persons during a military operation at Apo District of Federal Capital Territory on September 20, saying they were Boko Haram suspects.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika who was represented by Commander, Brigade of Guards Nigeria Army, Major Gen Emmanuel Atewe had told the panel that the incident was an isolated case and was unfortunate, saying the army acted promptly to avert what would have amounted to collateral damage in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
A non-governmental organisation, Global Rights and the National Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria (NATOMORAS) had jointly filed a petition before the NHRC, urging it to probe the incident.
He explained that the Apo incident was part of an ongoing military operation to rid the FCT of suspected Boko Haram members and ensure peace and stability in the country.
Ihejerika said the operation in Apo was informed by a report from the Department of State Security (DSS) alleging a planned attack by members of the Boko Haram on Abuja.
“Between 18 and 19th of September, two persons were arrested in Abuja and they made useful confessions that there existed cache of arms hidden at Apo Cemetery to be used in a planned attack,” he said.
He also stated that it was based on the confessional statements of the suspects that the military went to a cemetery to uncover the weapons.
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