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The security alert, our correspondents gathered, was necessitated by reports that loyalists of the embattled former Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, may have arrived in the two states.
It was learnt at the weekend that Gaddafi’s Chief Security Officer, Gen. Youseef Dbiri, who is said to have roots in Nigeria, has taken refuge in the house of a retired General in Kaduna.
This is coming as the nation’s immigration community has also been alerted to be on the watch following rumours that some Gaddafi’s loyalists may cross into Nigeria through Niger.
The concern in immigration circles is that the geographical locations and the Trans Saharan trade routes linking Libya, Niger and Nigeria make the country a likely destination for the fleeing members of the ousted regime.
One of Gaddafi’s sons, Sa’ad was last week reported to have arrived in Niger.
The Nation learnt that security operatives are currently searching all the Government Reservation Areas (GRA) in Kaduna for clues that might lead to eventually unravelling the truth or otherwise of reports that General Dbiri has relocated to Kaduna State from Yobe State where he is believed to have maternal roots along with some other members of the failed Libyan forces.But the Kaduna State government yesterday insisted that there was no truth in the report. It added that security agents in the state were on the alert to fish out any unwanted visitors to the state.
Sources close to the security high command in the state said that the security agents have been mandated to comb every part of the state and the neighbouring states for any clue.
According to the source who does not want his name in print, "I can tell you that the security agents are not resting. They are aware of the reports making the rounds and they have begun a robust manhunt to know how valid the report is. They are not dismissing anything and are not leaving anything to chance.
"We have also heard that intelligence officers are looking around and need to know the truth. Who are they and what is their mission? Are they just fleeing Libya or seeking asylum? Because even if it is asylum, there must be procedures and absolute documentation by immigration."
The source added, "You know there are security challenges attached to people coming into your country without clear-cut traces and addresses and even purposes of their immigration. We will get to the bottom of all the speculations, and we also need cooperation of people to volunteer information.
"You don’t know what is in their possessions, whether arms, money and what security threat they may pose. It is also possible for fleeing foreigners in a country to be good citizens, but again others can be influenced and get involved in inimical acts, and that is why we are not taking chances."
However, it is not clear which part of Kaduna, or which of the GRAs the retired General resides in as there are about five such highbrow areas in the metropolis.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Reuben Buhari told The Nation on Sunday that the government was aware of the rumour, pointing out that even though it is still a rumour, the government was not leaving any stone unturned and that security agents have been placed on alert.
A senior immigration officer, who spoke to our correspondent in Kano, said the immigration headquarters in Abuja had sent signal to commands in Kano and other border states to watch out for the likely infiltration of Gaddafi’s henchmen into the country.
The immigration officer who pleaded for anonymity because he was not authorised to speak disclosed that the fleeing Gaddafi men could take advantage of the porous nature of the nation’s border, particularly in states like Borno, Katsina, Sokoto, Yobe, Jigawa, Kebbi and Zamfara, to sneak into the country, with Kano considered as a most likely destination point.
He explained that though Kano is a hinterland without international boundary, the city is still on the watch list due to its cosmopolitan nature and the existence of an international airport.
He observed, "We have received signals from Abuja to watch out for Gaddafi’s men in Kano and other states with international borders. Remember that some of his men were recently spotted in Niger, and you know that the borders between Nigeria and Niger are so porous that they can easily come in.
"We do not want that to happen because it could jeopardize national security and soil our image in the eye of the international community. We, therefore, have no option other than to be on alert."
SOURCE: The Nation Newspaper 18 September 2011. http://www.thenationonlineng.net
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