By Moyo Fabiyi
Security officials in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia have arrested and detained two Nigerians identified as Luqman Abdul Salam and Abdul Alhi BolajokoUthman , suspected to be terrorists.
They were arrested yesterday with 12 other nationals allegedly linked with bomb suspect, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab who was held on 25 December, 2009 in America as he attempted to bomb an American airliner.
According to a report from Malaysia, the suspects were among people who were picked up from different locations in the country. They were held under the recent Internal Security Act, the Home Ministry said in a statement yesterday.
Other suspected terrorists detained along the two Nigerians include: Azzahari Murad (Malaysia), Aiman Al Dakkak (Syria); Mohammed Hozifa (Syria); Kutiba al-Issa (Syria); Khalid Salem (Yemen); Hassan Barudi (Syria) and Hussan Khalid (Jordan).
The identities of three other suspects could not be determined yet while two others were detained earlier.
However, in a contradictory move, the chairman of Gerakan Isa (GMI), an arm of the country’s security outfit, Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh said the detainees were part of the 14 suspects picked up in an operation in Sungai Cincin, Gombak near Kuala Lumpur.
He said they were picked up on 21 January having overstayed in the country since 2003.
“So they are not foreigners who have just arrived here,” he said, disputing Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammndian Hussein’s statement that those detained had just come to Malaysia and were part of an international terror ring.
From all indications, it may be that the Nigerians are being falsely accused as terrorists on account of what Abdulmutallab did. It could also be that the fate that has befallen them may not be unconnected with the statement made by Abdulmutallab that several Nigerians are undergoing training as terrorists in some countries.
On Christmas day, a 23-year old Nigerian graduate of Engineering at London University College, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was arrested in Detroit by the US Security agents when he attempted to bomb an American airliner with 290 passengers on board.
Abdulmutallab, son of the former Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria, Alhaji Umar Mutallab, allegedly confessed to the US Security agents that he got the powdery substance from Al Qaeda group in Yemen, a group noted for Islamic extremism.
The US government later added Nigeria to the list of terror nations with a claim that Abdulmutallab passed through the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos but the powdery substance was not detected.
Since then, Nigerians travelling to the US and other overseas countries have been subjected to full body checks as most Nigerians are being labelled as terror suspects.
KOLAWOLE BAMISHAYE
28 January 2010 18:40GOD WILL SURELY SAVE NIGER.
Samsudeen
29 January 2010 02:32The world should be careful not to tag innocent people with a bad name.
Pastor Johnson A Odewale Boston USA
29 January 2010 08:06NOW YOU KNOW WHY NIGERIA IS ON THE WATCH LIST.
otsowo
29 January 2010 12:09Are we sure that the two Nigeria are terriorist, or they are being labelled as such.
Adibeli
29 January 2010 12:29i don’t even expect PM News to come up with such headlines like TERRORISM SCARE. The international community read this piece,your newspaper is widely circulated if you don’t know those young men are Nigerians who left Nigeria as a result of the untold hardship your wicked leaders have inflicted on her citizenry in order to get a life,most of them we all know over stay in most cases. Please be careful about your headlines.tell your leaders to save this our beautiful nation.
STARMAN, U.K.
29 January 2010 12:41This is just the beginning. More shall be accused. Many more shall be arrested and clamped into gaol. Painfully, the turn of activities at home
do not seem to help the situations. By the sin of one many has been made guilty.
STARMAN, UK.
9ja4real
29 January 2010 14:41I think it would’ve been a good sense of journalism practice, if the Moyo Fabiyi had taken time to consult with the Nigerian High Commission in Malaysia before going to press. Culling up story(ies) from sources that are at best curious doesn’t portray us as being serious, anaytical, investigative. Honestly, I hold onto a conviction that this might be a clear case of false accusation.
Babatunde Ayeni
29 January 2010 15:49Let them prove themselves that they are not terrorists.
BELLO IDOWU
30 January 2010 16:57IT SEEMS AS IF THE U.S GOVT HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR AWAY TO TARNISH NIGERIA IMAGE, OTHERWISE, HOW CAN ONE PERSON COMMIT AN OFFENCE AND YOU ARE PUNISHING ABOUT ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY MILLION PEOPLE? WE WILL SUE U.S GOVT IF THEY DON’T DELETE NIGERIA NAME FROM THE TERROR LIST.
eyiowuawi
1 February 2010 09:05GOD SAVE US OH! I THINK THIS NEW LABEL ON NIGERIANS WILL ONLY MAKE THINGS WORSE FOR US.
WE ARE USED TO CORRUPTION AND NIGERIANS HAVE DEVELOPED SHOCK ABSORBER TOWARDS ALL OUR DOMESTIC PROBLEMS. BUT THIS NEW DIMENSION NOW ………HEY GOD WE SUBMIT EVERYTHING TO YOU OOOOOOOOO!
Unoma
2 February 2010 08:39I have always said it that the North is the problem.I pray America bombs Sokoto,Bauchi nd all those their dry major cities.
TOBA EMMANUEL
3 February 2010 16:24VERY DISHEARTNING, EVERY NIGERIAN HAS BECOME A TERRORIST GOD HAVE MERCY ON US IN NIGERIA.
Joseph
4 February 2010 18:04NIGERIA BE CAREFUL
ELD. EKANEM WHILLEY
5 February 2010 11:38EVERY FAMILY HAS A DARK SHEEP THIS IS NOT ENOUGH TO LEBEL NIGERIA AS A TERRORIST NATION. WE SHOULD PUT OUR TRUST IN GOD.
Remi Emeka Njoku
5 February 2010 16:02I have been to Malasia and the neighbouring Singapore, and I know too many Nigerian youths are stranded in those countries. Such youths in their frustration can easily be recruited into evil gangs. The the Nigerian High Commission in Malesia should wade into this matter as a matter of urgency, if it has not. But who says Nigerians can not be terrorists?
my pm
5 February 2010 17:17Its a wake up call for we Nigerians to realise that we now have lots of black sheeps ( bomb suspects) in our midst. We just hv 2 pray for the good God to visit their heart to stop tarnishing d image of this country as a result of their own personal foolishness.
aacharles
6 February 2010 19:01Are those names nigerian muslim names? If indeed they are Nigerians, I guess they have been mislabelled. What does Malaysia have that terrorist want to waste?
They should do their investigations very well. That one’s visa has expired does not mean one is terrorist.
Nevertheless, all these are fallout of 25 December incident; and it called for sober reflection. We should turn a new leaf and it must start form you and I.
Destiny
7 February 2010 20:49USA , LONDON ETC YOU ARE ALL COWARDS.I HAVE LEAVED IN EUROPE AND MOST PART OF THE WORLD NIGERIANS ARE NOT TERRORIST; IF NIGERIA DONT WANT TO GIVE YOUR CONTRY CONTRACT IN SECURITY SYSTEM IS THAT A PROBLEM? WHAT YOUR PROBLEM YOU NATIONS, WHERRE MUTALAP JOINGED AQADA WAS IN LONDON, HE TRANSITED IN HOLLAND AND PROCEEDED TO USE, IF NIGERIA CANT DISCOVERED SUCH, HOW COMES BRITAIN, YEMEN, HOLLAND AND GHANA CANNOT DISCOVERED THAT? WHAT HAS NIGERIA DONE TO YOU PEOPLE LEAVE US ALONE USA EUROPE INFACT I AM SORRY FOR THOSE LOOKING ELSEWHERE IN EUROPE OR USA
olusegun
8 February 2010 15:11We have to be sure may be they are terrorist or not before we come to conclusion.
Constance U. I.Sylver
8 February 2010 16:49Those people might just be innocent Nigerian out there looking for a greener pasture.
Taiwo Yewande
9 February 2010 08:29Who knows if those two mentioned are giulty or innocent ? the ultimate is just that God should save his own country and people from the accusers.One thing for sure i mnow is that, many are the afflictions of the righteous but the L ord see them through, he’ll surely see NIGERIA through this turbulent times.
Oba moses
12 February 2010 (5 weeks ago) 20:52I think the reporter should do his/her investigations well before putting it on the media.Please help us save this country Nigeria. We have just resolve our leadership problem two days ago.
gsmkliniktrinity
13 February 2010 (5 weeks ago) 16:55the americans should know that not all people are terrorist ooooooooo
Dan Chris
13 February 2010 (5 weeks ago) 23:57Oh, Now will can see the true. Their is no need for the U.S GOVT to Delete Nigeria Name from the Terror List,since MALAYSIA is the MALAYSIA GOVT that cut those TWO guys and not the U.S GOVT. No need for that. All will need now is God. But those guys have being Bad name to will Nigeria’s which is not good. Well, that is Nothing will can do,is only God that can do it.
I wise Nigeria Good luck and God Bless Nigerian’s.
Dan Chris
odi
16 February 2010 (4 weeks ago) 00:59These are not the only terrorists we have. We have more wicked terrorists in the corridor of power (presidency, senators, ministers, governors, etc) who have held Nigerians hostage for many donkey years. These wicked rulers has been bombarding the destinies of innocent Nigeria, and afflicting with untold hardship via corruption.
Balwa
17 February 2010 (4 weeks ago) 18:00@Bello idowu..You really make me laugh when you say America wants to tarnish the image of Nigeria…i was just wondering if NIGERIA has any image at all…We the most useless entity called a country..Try to travel around the world & even war prone countrys like Iraq & Afghanistan & you will understand….Trust me i have been to some of this countries as a foreign soldier & i know what i am talking about…
UDEME
19 February 2010 (4 weeks ago) 12:59IN EVERYTHING WE DO, WE NEED TO THINK TWICE, THEN STOP INVOLVING IN AN ACT THAT KEEPS ON SPOILING OUR IMAGE. WE SHOULD REFRAIN FROM ILLEGAL ACT.
Okenga Tuja
19 February 2010 (4 weeks ago) 14:41Nigerians should stop bordering about international terrorism and face the local terrorists who are by their actions supporting the claims that we are a terrorist nation. Where in this world can you find innocent people being murdered and yet justice is nowhere seen to be done. Where are the about 314 jihadists arrested in Jos, some in full military uniforms? Where are the bokoharamists arrested in Bauchi? Where are the Kalakatos arrested also in Bauchi at the same time when Abdulmutallab was buzy planning to kill another 300 people in the US? Please, call a spade a spade. Unless the muslim leaders stop preaching to their children that christians are their enemies and that the more christians they killed the happier God will be and reward them in heaven, the muslim themselves and the world will not know peace. However, what is important for the terrorists to know is that no one has monopoly of violence. A child that says the mother will not sleep will also know no sleep, period. Nigerians should stop disturbing themselves about terror suspects. Whatever they seek, they shall find. Those who live by the swords die by it. The Hausa/Fulani extremists are the ones spoiling Nigeria’s name abroad and destroying all efforts at developing the country. They are a selfish people who only wish their own well and to the detriment of others. They should learn from the peace-loving Yoruba muslims who are the true muslims in Nigeria.
Fruithful Taga
19 February 2010 (4 weeks ago) 14:57No matter what people say, terrorism both locally and internationally is an islamic logo. In Nigeria, it is a Hausa Fulani muslim logo - maitasine, bokoharam, kalakato. They have visited Nigeria with untold hardships simply because the federal government has tolerated them. After destabilizing Kaduna state for several years, they moved to Bauchi and now Jos. Their leaders keep denying that islam does not accept terrorism but they are the real sponsors of the sinful acts. Shame on them all. They have awakened christians from sleep and they are beginning to feel the taste of their wickedness.
kehinde s
19 February 2010 (4 weeks ago) 18:27let’s commit everythings into the hands of God and keep on praying for His peace to reign in this nation.
Amos
22 February 2010 (3 weeks ago) 15:31is U S heave?????????????????? haba