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Senate clears Maduekwe, Arapaja, 83 others as envoys P6 Nations Cup: It’s Cote d’Ivoire versus Zambia final P58 Edo group hails Oshiomhole’s endorsement by monarchs P7 www.thenationonlineng.net
VOL. 7, NO. 2030 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012
TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH
N150.00
Why I accepted task force job, by Ribadu •He’s on his own, says ACN N
•Mallam Ribadu
UHU Ribadu, the former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chair, yesterday said his appointment as Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force chief is “a national call bigger than personal ego”. In a statement entitled:
From Yusuf Alli, Abuja
“When the nation calls”, which he personally signed, Ribadu explained why he took the job. But the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the party on
whose platform Ribadu ran for president last year, said he took the job in his personal capacity without the support of the party. Ribadu said: “I was greeted to numerous calls
and mail yesterday when the administration announced my name as Chairman of the 21-man Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force. “Given my recent political pedigree, many inquirers
naturally wanted to understand what was happening, and whether it was true that I was consulted and whether I would accept the offer. “The history of my life is a history of public service, Continued on page 4
How bombers are chosen, by Boko Haram suspect Army arrests soldiers over Kaduna bombing Task Force relives Kano operation From Yusuf Alli, Abuja
D
ETAINED Boko Haram spokesman Abu Qaqa has told State Security Service (SSS) officials how suicide bombers are chosen among members of the sect. He also listed those being used for suicide bombing as Chadians, Nigeriens, Camerounians, Hausa, Fulani and others, The Nation learnt yesterday. According to a source, Qaqa told a team of investigators that once a member is chosen for a suicide mission, he has no option but to carry out the assignment. The source added that any member who refuses to go on a suicide mission will instead face the death penalty. The source said: “Based on the SEE revelations of Qaqa, we have been able to invite more people ALSO for interaction for more clues. PAGES “Our findings so far are appre2&3 ciable because the suspect has been cooperative. At the appropriate time, the public will be briefed.” The source quoted Qaqa as saying: “No suicide bomber of the group volunteers. They are usually handpicked. Once you are handpicked, it is death either way; if you refused, you would be killed on the orders of the leadership. So, many prefer the suicide bomb option, far away from their wives and children. “At a point, some of us thought suicide bombing was ‘cowardice’, but confronting the leadership with such a position would’ve come with a price: death. “What was bad about those handpicked for the suicide mission was that all of them were non-Kanuri. They were always Chadians, Nigeriens, Camerounians, Hausa, Fulani and others. Continued on page 4
•TOP AND BOTTOM: Some of the arms and ammunition recovered in the Kano raid on Boko Haram. •RIGHT: Part of the house with bullet holes