CHRISTMAS POGROM PLANNED FOR PLATEAU STATE

Christians in Plateau State need to be on high alert for a Christmas season pogrom planned and developed by Islamic militants.  The militants contracted a Nigerian based Syrian to supply them with sophisticated weapons and other armaments. The weapons were hidden in boxes of dates and smuggled into Nigeria via its porous border with Niger. The weapons were then off-loaded in Bauchi where the light weapons were then driven to Jos and the heavier weapons transported to Jos by donkey’s along traditional Hausa-Fulani cattle trails.

The weapons are now in Jos and have been distributed to Hausa-Fulani herders to execute the pogrom.   The mission of the Islamist is to Islamize northern Nigeria. The pogrom may have already begun as eyewitnesses are reporting an undocumented massacre that happen during the week of Dec. 9, 2012 in the Jos vicinity where the victims were shoot and then buried in a mass grave by men dressed in military uniforms.       

ABUJA ALERT #1

                  SOFT TARGETS WITH LOW RISK AND VERY HIGH VALUE

Now that Boko Haram has changed its focus to soft targets in Abuja the FG should be proactive in strengthening security and surveillance in locations frequented by children.  The soft targets I have highlighted below offer very low risk to terrorist wanting to penetrate current security measures in place to safeguard patrons.  The targets should be considered high value because an attack carries the possibly of further destabilizing the nation through the killing and maiming innocent children which would further undermine confidence in the FG to protect its citizens

Though there are several paths to comprise the security of these potential targets, I have highlighted in red the mostly likely route for a VBIED.

I have identified several soft targets within the FCT and other areas of Nigeria and will post them in future  alerts.

 I only bring your attention to these vulnerabilities out of an abundance of caution.

I pray for peace, stability, prosperity and the continued unity of Nigeria.





                                    THE NATIONAL CHILDREN'S PARK AND ZOO

MAITAMA AMUSEMENT PARK

WONDERLAND AMUSEMENT PARK

TRUE BORDERS

TRUE BORDERS

I was once invited to travel to an undisclosed desert location in the Republic of Niger to meet with Colonel Muammar Gaddafi; this invitation came approximately two years before the fall of his regime in Libya and his death at the hands of his captors. The invitation had been extended to me by indigenous entities interested in development in northern Nigeria; it was my understanding that they had previously met with Colonel Gaddafi in Niger soliciting his support and thought that he would fund a food security venture which I had proposed.  

I informed them that I did not have a visa to cross into Niger; their response is exactly what I expected, if I were in their company then no visa was needed to cross into any country bordering Nigeria.  Having operated for some time in northern Nigeria I knew this to be true; indigenes whether they be in the north, central belt or southern Nigeria respect tribal territory, their true borders, far more so than the fractured sovereign borders which currently define African countries.  The current borders are a lasting legacy of Africa’s colonial past; borders which were conjured in the ‘Scramble for Africa’ created primarily to serve the interest of western masters, borders deliberately designed to create a political Frankenstein to control native populations.  

The Frankenstein monster has awakened; having evolved from the creature we are familiar with into a somewhat sophisticated and stealth terrorist adept at hiding in the shadows, secretly planning its strikes, while silently stalking its next victims. Frankenstein is now known as Boko Haram. The monster has broken through the restrains of its colonial borders and is now drawing strength, support and sustenance from its true border regions, its territorial tribal borders which reach deep into Chad, Niger, Cameroon and beyond. 

The monster is asking the question; “why did you create me”, why was I melded into several foreign parts to form the Nigerian experiment. This is the same question the Niger Delta MEND monster posed before it ravenous appetite was sated with palliatives from the Nigerian government.

Boko Harum has answered the questioned that the Nigerian experiment was created to serve western Christen interest which, they believe, is harum to Islamic interest. Thus it is seeking to return to its pre-colonial and/or tribal territorial borders, its true borders. Boko Harum is by no means alone in expressing a longing to free itself from its colonial amalgamated borders; in addition to MEND one only needs to refer to the not so distance history of the Biafran War.  

Colonel Gaddafi being very familiar with the seething unrest boiling within many African nations due to these imposed colonial borders was only too willing to nurture the growth of this monster; seeding it with an abundance of arms and cash.  His sojourns into the Sahara were rewarded by untold numbers of recruits joining his ranks to fight and die for his regime. His struggle against western interest to overthrow his regime became their struggle, their struggle to establish independent nations free of colonial borders became his struggle.

His support for their struggle has survived his demise; growing exponentially since his death.  

The Tuaregs and other Islamist have joined to establish an independent nation in northern Mali; rebels in northern Niger are strengthening. Chad and Cameroonian insurgents are rapidly expanding the composition of Boko Haram; his funding allowing for training of new recruits in Somalia, Yemen and other countries.

I recall when the first suicide bomber struck the headquarters of the Nigerian Police Force. No one would or could believe that a Nigerian of any ethnicity would become a suicide bomber; this kind of thing just didn’t happen in Nigeria. The Nigerian media initially reported that the driver of the vehicle had planned to park the vehicle in the police compound for detonation at a later time. It was seemingly unfathomable to believe that suicide bombers had arrived in Nigeria. 

It is highly instructive to note that the epidemic of suicide bombings arrived in Nigeria soon after Colonel Gaddafi’s conclave in the Sahel. 

What is commonly referred to in security parlance as  “porous sovereign borders” are in reality the true pre-colonial borders, the true borders, that have been traversed by indigenous tribes for commerce, hunting, weddings, and other social and business gathers long before the advent of the imposed colonial borders of Africa.  

When these true borders are viewed within the context of the current unrest plaguing Nigeria and neighboring countries they provide insight into possible insurgent strong holds, as well as provide a potential predictive model to arrest future attacks.    But more importantly they provide an acceptable road map to peace for all stakeholders.

Colonel Gaddafi tapped into a gusher of resentment driven by indigenous disenfranchisement due to the imposed colonial borders which historically have served only western interest.  

These colonial borders are the true incubators and cause of the corruption which has been so thoroughly vetted and reported in the global media.  There has been ongoing raging silent tribal warfare, which has fostered copious amounts of corruption, within Nigeria since its founding as a republic.   This tribal warfare is executed annually by tribes plotting to control plum positions in lucrative federal ministries; then protecting senior positions in those ministries for their kind and follow tribesmen. This form of tribal nepotism is the crucible from which springs the most damaging and destructive forms corruptions to rend the Nigerian fabric.   

If the two major militant factions are singing the same song from the same hymnal isn’t it time the world listen? All they are saying is that the current system is not working, has never worked, and never will work to serve the interest of those trapped within its borders.

 One wonders whose interest is being served by this current border configuration; who is the beneficiary of a system so fractured that a nation has to develop a Federal Character Board to ethnically balance its sports teams, military and government institutions?    

Let me be absolutely clear, I am not advocating for the break-up of Nigeria; but for the restructuring and alignment of systems and procedures to meet the needs of all its citizens.

What are the consequences if these systems are not overhauled to the benefit of all Nigerians? 

A review of past militant organizations funded by Colonial Gaddafi may offer some insight. The history of Gaddafi backed militants’ reveals that bombs have been a staple in their arsenal to attack institutions. This fact combined with true tribal borders telegraphs the route and nature of future attacks on Nigerian personal and institutions. 

In the absence of a negotiated peace deal with Boko Haram the nation should gird itself for more sustained targeted bombing of its federal institutions and commercial centers,  assassinations of top state and federal leaders as well as politicians. Based on a review of past bombings by Gaddafi back rebels the militants will use massive bombs and increasingly more sophisticated and powerful ordinance in future attacks to destabilize the country.

As hard targets become more protected, bombing of soft targets, usually urban locations where large crowds of civilians congregate become the default. The recent targeting of the Crystal Lounge, a very popular night club in Abuja, should be viewed as a seminal event in the targeting of soft urban locations. 

BOKO HARAM BIOTERRORISM

BOKO HARAM 

BIOTERRORISM POTENTIAL 

‘LASSA FEVER’

The very nature of asymmetric warfare, which is currently being employed by Boko Haram, mandates that you prepare for the unexpected. While I applaud the findings and recommendations contained in your committees report dated November 30, 2011 regarding Boko Haram; I believe the omission of any mention of the potential of bioterrorism attack by Boko Haram could be a disastrous oversight with grave consequences for the US Homeland.

Please allow me to frame my discussion within the context of two of the five recommendations outlined in the Congressional Report on Boko Haram.

RECOMMENDATION (1)

‘DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE BOKO HARAM’S INTENT AND CAPABILITY TO

ATTACK THE U.S. HOMELAND: As this report makes clear, the U.S. Intelligence Community has recently underestimated the intent and capability of terrorist groups to strike the homeland, most notably Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). These underestimations had near deadly consequences on Christmas Day 2009 over Detroit and in May 2010 in Times Square.’

First, let me state categorically that the Republic of Nigeria is completely unprepared to detect, deter or defend against an attack utilizing bioweapons to cripple any of its critical complexes including government, energy, oil and gas, banking and health services.

I am informing you of what has been told to me, on several occasions; one of their major weaknesses is a complete lack of bio surveillance/deterrence or intelligence.

This lack of capacity in Nigeria’s biodefense may currently be being exploited and/or probed by interest determined to undermine the unity of the Republic of Nigeria and attack US interest in the region.

 I want you to consider the recent outbreaks of viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) in, Ebonyi, Taraba, Rivers States and Yola being reported in the Nigerian press:

·         Re: Nigeria: Lassa Fever cases- Outbreak among doctors in Ebonyi State

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Source: http://www.thenationonlineng.net/201...ever-back.html

Is Lassa fever back?
By WALE ADEPOJU

Lassa fever is back as cases are being reported in some parts of the country. The vectors are rats and dirty environment. WALE ADEPOJU writes on the Federal Government’s effort to contain the disease.

Lassa fever, an acute viral haemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus found in rats, is on the loose in some parts of the country. The death of a medical doctor was reported in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State while unconfirmed reports claimed Imo and some northern states are experiencing what may turn out to be an epidemic, if not checked...

·         Apr 7, 2011

Nigerian physicians hit by Lassa fever

A physician at a medical center in Nigeria recently died of Lassa fever, and two other physicians from the same center are being treated for the disease, the Nigerian Tribune reported today. The doctors, working at the Federal Medical Centre in Yola, Adamawa state, experienced symptoms of a viral hemorrhagic fever in early March after treating a patient, said Dr. Aliyu Danburam, chief medical director there. All three were referred to the Irrua Specialist Medical Centre for the Control of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, where the disease was confirmed. One of the patients died there, and the other two were still being treated, the story said. Because of the highly infectious nature of Lassa fever, the Nigerian health ministry's epidemiology unit set up a surveillance squad at the Yola medical center to screen all cases that could possibly be linked to the outbreak, Danburam reported. The story did not specify whether any other cases have been confirmed. Apr 7 Nigerian Tribune story

·        

       February 10, 2012 – NIGERIA

Seven people have reportedly died in Taraba State, following an outbreak of Lassa fever a couple of days ago. The state Commissioner for Health, Prince Mustapha Hamman Gabdo, confirmed this while briefing journalists in the state. The commissioner said four of the victims of the disease died at the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo, one died at the Government House Clinic, Jalingo, and the two others, who contracted the disease in Taraba State died in Gombe State after travelling there for treatment. He said the ministry had already taken measures to stop the spread of the epidemic and would embark on sensitization campaigns as well as vaccinate the entire people of the state against the disease. Shedding more light on the source of the dreaded fever and its dangers to human beings, the head of Epidemiology unit in the state Ministry of Health, Innocent Vakai, said the disease was transmitted by a specific rat which had no hair on its tail. The epidemiologist said the symptoms of Lassa Fever included severe headache, high fever, vomits that passed through all the openings in the human body, just as he advised persons having such symptoms to rush to the nearest hospital for medical attention. Similarly, the Taraba State House of Assembly, on Thursday, summoned an urgent public importance sitting, followed reported cases of outbreak of Lassa fever in Jalingo, the state capital. Member representing Gembu Constituency, Honorable Abubakar Jugidda, who disclosed this before the assembly, stressed the need for the state government to look into the issue immediately to control the epidemic to save lives. The law maker urged the house to impress on the state government to direct the ministry of health to provide the necessary drugs to the victims of the disease. –Tribune 

·         Lassa fever kills doctor, 12 others in Taraba

An outbreak of the deadly haemorrhagic virus Lassa at the Federal Medical Center in Jalingo has killed at least 13 people since its detection a week ago in Taraba state, Xinhua reported.

The outbreak of the virus has forced the management of the medical center to close some of its units.

The virus is transmitted primarily though contact with rat excreta.

Mustapha Hamman-Gabdo, the Taraba state commissioner for health, said some people admitted to the centre for different ailments were later diagnosed with Lassa fever.

He said that a female medical doctor, Aisha Isa died on Sunday at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital while Amina Abdullahi, a nurse died in Jalingo on Monday. Both of them were staff of the center.

The commissioner said that the state government is already taking steps to control the outbreak.

      February 13, 2012

Port Harcourt — Lassa fever, a viral killer diseases carried by rodents especially rats, is now an epidemic in Rivers State, the state government has said.

Dr. Sampson Parker, the state‘s Commissioner for Health, declared the disease an epidemic during an interactive session with the medical staff of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) and representatives from the Federal Ministry of Health, when he met them at the weekend in Port Harcourt.

He said a rapid response team will be set up with all resources put into use to tackle the challenge posed by Lassa fever in the state.

“I formally declare that there is Lassa fever epidemic in the state and we must do all we can to tackle the challenge. I think we have capable hands at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital to deal with the Lassa fever menace in the state.

“This is one of the hospitals in the state and it is our responsibility, whether the incident is in UPTH or not. It is the responsibility of the Rivers State Ministry of Health to see the much we can do. This is a public health challenge that we are facing” Parker said.

He commended UPTH for accepting to set up a unit to act as a referral team for the state in the fight against Lassa fever and assured that the Amaechi- led administration would do its best to tackle the epidemic.

Parker stated that the government would provide logistic support including equipment and vehicles for the rapid response team, adding that medical kits would be provided in all model health centres across the state where suspected patient of Lassa fever could be referred to the UPTH.

Additionally, please consider that even if the outbreaks can’t currently be linked to Boko Haram there exist a diverse pathogenic reservoir which is increasing exponentially that can be exploited at a time and convenience by Boko Haram and/or their partners (Al Qaeda, Al Shabaab, AQIM).

By way of background I have some experience in the detection of pathogens which may be used as instruments of bioterrorism; my training in biodefense tells me to examine the history of a region as it relates to biological events which cause pain, suffering and death.  I can tell you that I am highly suspect of these outbreaks of Lassa Fever; and when viewed from the context of recent threats by Boko Haram toward southern Nigeria believe they merit investigation from a biodefense perspective.

I believe an investigation would maintain the integrity of your committee’s first recommendation by not underestimating the threat posed by Boko Haram and its partners.

RECOMMENDATION (2)

‘INCREASE U.S. GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR NIGERIAN COUNTERTERRORISM AND INTELLIGENCE PROGRAMS: The U.S. Government should increase its support for programs that enhance the ability of Nigerian security forces to more effectively target Boko Haram and counter its evolution. The U.S. and Nigerian governments should also work more closely to increase intelligence collection.’

The U.S. government should assist Nigeria in establishing a Biodense Program at a Nigerian university ,modeled after the Biodefense Program at George Mason University, which would  provide students with a background in the science and technology of biodefense and the specialized areas of threat assessment, non-proliferation, and medical and public health preparedness.

The risks posed by biological threats have increased substantially in recent years due to globalization, advances in science and technology, and the changing nature of conflict and security. These threats are both man-made and naturally occurring. Biological warfare, bioterrorism, as well as emerging infectious diseases, all pose complex threats to human health.

While the responses to man-made and natural occurring disease outbreaks differ in important respects, they both require interdisciplinary collaboration, interagency coordination, inter- governmental partnership, and international cooperation. Students in the Biodefense Program will acquire the knowledge and skills to bridge the gap between scientists and policy-makers on each of these levels. A biodefense program should be designed to educate the next generation of biodefense and biosecurity professionals and scholars.

Nigerian universities offer the U.S. government a platform to enhance Nigerian security efforts as well as to protect U.S. interest in the region while guarding the U.S. homeland from asymmetrical attacks through the use of bioweapons.