Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Abuja (Agenzia Fides) - The Nigerian Islamic Boko Haram sect is planning suicide bombings in the federal capital, Abuja, to disrupt the celebrations of national independence on 1 October. This is what the Nigerian press reports, according to which national intelligence sources say that the terrorist group is preparing to hit a series of objectives in Abuja between September 26 and October 1. The alarm is taken very seriously by local authorities to the extent that the federal government is considering the possibility to cancel the traditional military parade on 1 October.
The security services have announced the description of two vehicles including their number plate, which could be used to carry out the attacks. Among the possible targets of the bombers, the Nigerian intelligence has identified the NNPC Towers in Abuja; the Central Bank of Nigeria headquarters; the Federal Ministry of Finance; the National Assembly; the Supreme Court and other important civil and military or commercial institutional offices.
Abuja has been shaken by two terrorist attacks in recent months attributed to Boko Haram. In June, a car bomb exploded at the headquarters of the national police (see Fides 08/06/2011) and August 26 another car bomb exploded at the UN in the Nigerian federal capital (see Fides 27/08/2011). In connection with this attack, the UN Secretary-General dismissed the leaders of the Nigerian security headquarters. The Nigerian press says that the U.S. FBI, which helps local authorities in the investigation on the attack, was responsible for managing the security of the UN building. The Nigerian Bishops have asked several times to inquire into these incidents of violence and the interests that drive their authors and the people behind this violence (see Fides 13/9/2011). (LM) (Agenzia Fides 26/09/2011)
