Emerging facts have punctured earlier claims that the uncompleted building in Apo legislative quarters, where seven squatters were killed with several others injured, is owned by a top military officer.
State Security officers and men of the Nigerian Army had raided the shelter around 3am of Friday, September 20, on the ground that some Boko Haram members were residents.
The occupants had told Nigerians that an unnamed Army Colonel (sic) issued to them, a one-week vacation notice to vacate the premises or face damning consequences.
They also denied harbouring any insurgent/s in their midst, saying they all do menial jobs – including selling water, food, petty goods and riding tricycle (commonly called Keke) to earn a living.
But a PREMIUM TIMES investigation has corroborated our Sunday’s exclusive report wherein a reliable source dismissed reports that a military officer owns the building.
The online news site on Wednesday revealed that the ownership of the yet-to-be completed mansion was sucesssfully traced to one Mrs. Adunni Oluwole Salisu, believed to be the sister to former President, Olusegun Obasanjo.
It reports that the documents from the Abuja Geographical Information Systems (AGIS) shows that the property, located at No. 8 Bamanga Tukur Street, Gudu District, near the Gudu cemetery, belongs to Mrs. Salisu.
“Ownership details of property OG247326, unmistakably point to Mrs. Salisu land rights, but neither her, nor the former president, could be reached for comment; although authoritative family sources confirmed the ownership and the relationship.” the paper adds.
An SSS officer who spoke under condition of anonymity, told DailyPost, that their mission was “not in anyway related to a military officer’s instruction.”
“There’s nothing like that at all. We had placed that area under surveillance for some time as one of the suspects we arrested earlier, confirmed that a strong member of the sect, in company of his foot soldiers, was squatting in that building.
“The guy was described as a rugged fellow who would not go down without a fight.
Our source added that “This suspect (in detention) also disclosed that the militant buried the arms at a cemetery close by and that he and others would open fire if they see any movement around the (Gudu) cemetery, especially if it was not during the day.
On the shootings, he explained that “The truth is it was the Boko Haram guys within that house that started firing when they heard movement. We are professionals; we know what is at stake. So we could not have gone there and open fire just like that. The SSS always respect the rule of engagement.
“As we were digging the suspected location of the armoury, several gunshots were directed at us. We had no choice than to defend ourselves.
“It was that point we realized that the suspect told the truth when he warned that we would be attacked. If you check, virtually all the survivors were hit at their back, buttock, or leg.
He added that “This tells you that they were probably the innocent ones who were trying to flee because some of the occupants actually confronted us.
A spokesman for the tricycle association himself confirmed the position of security officials, when he told Channels TV, that “because two or three Boko Haram people were in the building offers no excuse to kill innocent people.”
The statement has been received in circles as an admittance that the SSS was right in the first place.
Another cyclist speaking to DailyPost, said it is true that some members of the violent sect have infiltrated the riders union, “but what do we do,” he querried.
“We have no evidence against them and even if we do, who will dare report to security people.
“If you open your mouth to say anything and these people (Boko Haram) catches you, you and your family are finished,” the rider who plies the Galadimawa-Jabi route confided in our reporter Wednesday afternoon.
Meanwhile, most of the squatters arrested at the building have been freed after they were found to be clean.
Already, the Senate, the Police and the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, have all promised to carry out a thorough investigation into the incident. Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN
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