IRAQ: Police Crackdown on Alleged Nigerian Mercenaries

By Toye Olori Reprint | | Print |

Toye Olori

LAGOS, Mar 24 2003 (IPS) - Police have launched a crackdown on alleged Nigerian mercenaries apparently recruited by an Iraqi to fight on the side of Iraq in United States led coalition war.

This incident comes in the midst of an unfolding diplomatic row between Nigeria and the United States over the West African country’s lack of support for the coalition war in Iraq. In retaliation President George Bush apparently recently announced the stoppage of military assistance to Nigeria.

Just as the US announced the withdrawal of military assistance, reports from the northern city of Kano said security operatives have commenced an intensive man-hunt for an Iraqi who allegedly come into the country to recruit Nigerians to fight on the side of Iraq against the United State-led coalition forces. The Iraqi, whose identify is not known, is wanted along with a Nigerian collaborator, Paul Richmond.

The Iraqi is said to have attempted to fly 25 Nigerians aboard an Egyptian airline through the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in the ancient city. The Nigerians, 21 male and four females all from the Southeastern part of the country were, however, arrested by security operatives.

According to media reports, the Nigerians embarked on the mission based on their membership of an Abuja-based Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) – World Youth Peace Network – headed by Richmond.

According to the reports, men of the State Security Service (SSS) began the hunt for Richmond who hails from Akwa-Ibom State, South-eastern Nigeria, following the discovery that he had travelled under questionable circumstances to Iraq several times within the last one year.

The wanted Nigerian was also indicted on a cover note he allegedly gave to one of the arrested persons to forward to a top-ranking Iraqi official on arrival in Baghdad, which security officials, say further confirmed the Iraq link of those arrested.

Meanwhile the announcement by President George Bush ordering a stop to all military aid to Nigeria citing the violence in Benue State, Northern Nigeria last year during which soldiers allegedly killed some villagers in retaliation for the killing of some soldiers on peace mission to the area, is likely to bring about a diplomatic row between the two countries.

Dubem Onyia, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs has denounced the US action and described the stoppage of military aid as a tactic employed by the United States to force the country to support the war on Iraq. He warned that his government would resist all attempts of intimidation by the US government.

The Minister, who reportedly summoned Howard Jeter, U.S Ambassador to Nigeria to his office in Abuja to formally register Nigeria’s indignation, said the timing of the withdrawal of military aid based on the problem in Benue State was not tenable.

Last weekend, the Nigerian Police Chief, Tafa Balogun, instructed police commissioners from the 36 states of the Federation to beef up security against any backlash over the US-led war against Iraq. He also hinted that intelligence reports show that some Nigerians are being recruited to fight in Iraq.

”We are not America or Iraq, so there should be no demonstrations here and I want you to make your presence well felt in your domains,” Balogun said, apparently referring to similar demonstrations in the northern part of the country when the US forces invaded Afghanistan in search of Osama bin Laden for the September 11 bombing.

Violent demonstrations in the city of Kano and Kaduna after last Friday prayers were averted by the heavy presence of armed police and soldiers in all the streets of the two highly volatile religious cities, where similar riots in the past have resulted in the deaths of many people and destruction of property.

The United States and British Missions in Nigeria have beefed up security at their missions to forestall any possible attack on their officials. Britain partially closed her diplomatic mission in both Lagos and Abuja. The American and British schools located here have also been shut down for security reasons.

Samson Ewedapo, a senior civil servant has expressed surprise over the alleged recruitment of Nigerian mercenaries to fight in Iraq.

”Are they soldiers to go to Iraq and fight? Where did they get their military training? I believe they are just fake people who want to use the recruitment or the Iraqi war to get out of this country to Europe. Many more of this would definitely come up as the war goes on. The Nigerian Security Service should be vigilant,” he said.

”Those arrested would have disappeared at the next available opportunity when they get abroad, because from the report I read today, the culprits are from Akwa Ibom which is not even a Muslim State, which would have made a difference. Nigeria has done the best thing to have arrested them. They should be prosecuted and taught a lesson,” he said. (ENDS/IPS/MM/AF/WA/IP/TO/SM/03)

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