Arrested Boko Haram Spokesman Fingers Senator And Ambassador As Sponsors

The State Security Service (SSS), yesterday paraded the man who claimed to be the spokesperson of the deadly Boko Haram sect, Ali Sanda Umar Konduga (A.K.A Usman Al-Zawahiri) with the suspect alleging that a serving Senator and an Ambassador were financiers of Boko Haram activities.

The Deputy Director, Public Relations of SSS, Mrs. Marilyn Ogar, who paraded the suspect in Abuja, told journalists that Al-Zawahiri was arrested on the 3rd of November, 2011 at Gwange area, Maiduguri, Borno State.

According to Ogar, "The former political thug that was operating under a group widely known as ECOMOG was arrested during a joint security operation by SSS. His arrest further confirms the service position that some of the Boko Haram extremists have political patronage and sponsorship. This is more so as Al-Zawahiri has so far made valuable confessions in this regard".

"Al-Zawahiri agreed that he was recruited by a political party stalwart in Maiduguri, Borno state. Following the compulsory registration of SIM cards nationwide, he was asked to steal a SIM card which he used in sending threat text messages."

He confessed "That one of his benefactors (Late Ambassador) promised to pay him Ten Million Naira (N10m), to work for his party but by stint of fate, he died on his way to deliver the part payment of five million Naira (N5m)".

"That he (Al-Zawhiri) was behind all the threat text messages sent to the Judges of the Election Tribunal in Maiduguri. His objective was to ensure that the tribunal sacks the present Government in Borno".

"He was behind the threat text messages sent to Governor Sule Lamido, Governor Babaginda Aliyu, and Amb. Dalhatu Sarki Tafida; Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Justice Sabo Adamu (Chairman of the election petition tribunal in Borno State).

"That most of the threat messages he sent to Justice Sabo Adamu, were scripted and relayed to him by the National Assembly member." she said.

She said the suspect alleged "that the telephone number and content of the text message sent to the Attorney General and Minister of Justice were also given to him by the Legislator in order to compel him (AGF), to influence the judgment of the tribunal against the government in Borno state."

She noted that the SSS have already confirmed from the analysis of Al-Zawahiri's phone that there was constant communication between him and the legislator.

During interrogation, he informed the SSS that his pseudo name Usman Al-Zawahiri was given to him by the said politician to portray him as an extremist as well as conceal his identity.

While fielding questions from journalists, Zawhiri said the Boko Haram group was against the ANPP and the government of Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff and that after the election they met former Ambassador to Sao Tome and Principe, a chieftain of the PDP.

The PDP member in their discussion told him that since they have lost the election, his group should identify with all oppositions but not All Nigerian Peoples' Party (ANPP).

"Because we were in sympathy with all opposition I decided to send threat text messages to the tribunal and which eventually made the tribunal to relocate to Abuja. And it was the Ambassador that asked me to send the text messages".

"I sent threat text messages to former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Minister of National planning, Alhaji Sanusi Dagash, because the Ambassador asked me to send the text messages. He told me that Chief Obasanjo was supporting former Governor Sherriff and that was why we sent those text messages to him."

The former student of Mohammed Yusuf said he sent threat text messages to Judges of the Election Tribunal in Maiduguri and that the main objective of sending the messages was to ensure the sacking of the present State Government in Borno State by the tribunal.

The suspect also said that due to the Boko Haram sect's suspicion that he was a stooge for the security, he was suspended from the group.

Culled from Vanguard