[SUNNEWSONLINE] The Lagos State police command has tossed in the clinkYou have the right to remain silent...
more than 200 undocumented Democrats across the state.
Those arrested were mostly Chadians, Cameroonian, Sudaneses and Nigeriens. The raid, Saturday Sun learnt was carried out in response to the recent discovery of suspected members of an Islamist fundamentalist sect, Boko Haram
... not to be confused with Procol Harum, Harum Scarum, possibly to be confused with Helter Skelter. The Nigerian version of al-Qaeda and the Taliban rolled together and flavored with a smigeon of distinctly Subsaharan ignorance and brutality...
in Ijora, a densely populated area of Lagos.
Acting on a tip-off, soldiers numbering about 100, assisted by men of the State Security Service, stormed the hide-out of the terror suspects in Ijora. They were said to have arrived in the area around 7am in search of the suspects said to be members of the sect.
Saturday Sun investigation revealed that their search yielded fruits as five persons were arrested and a bomb kept in a cooler and hidden in the ceiling of one of the rooms in Musa's apartment was recovered by the soldiers.
"You wanta explain this, Musa?"
"It's fer personal use."
A security source, who craved anonymity, added that the raid was as a result of an investigation which began a month ago.
"Pssst! Is dis da Lagos cop shoppe? Lissen, dis is Mahmoud da Weasel..."
He said: "Security agents got information a month ago that there was a terrorist hideout in the Seven-Up area of Ijora. Although we were not sure if they were Boko Haram members or not, we did not want to take any chances, so we decided to go and raid the place.
"It was discovered that the place was being run by a Chadian, and arms recovered during the raid, included AK-47 rifles. Investigations are ongoing and those who are found not culpable will be released."
"What's with the AKs, Musa?"
"We're Moslems. We have to wave them around and holler at least twice a week. It's in the Koran somewhere. You could look it up."
On the raid, a police source explained: "Since the suspects arrested on Thursday were foreigners, the command decided to go after foreigners in these terrorist- prone areas especially, the undocumented Democrats in their midst.
"It is outrageous the number of undocumented Democrats in the country who have no meaningful source of livelihood. We hope to get a link to the recent threat by the dreaded sect to infiltrate Nigeria."
He, however, said that there would be careful screening to ensure the legitimate immigrants are not affected.
"... Book 'im, Danno! Next!... Name?"
"Mahmoud."
"Nationality?"
"Guatamalan."
"Profession?"
"Crook."
"Can you prove dat?"
"Here's my Wanted poster."
"Hmmm... Dat looks like you. Get outta here. Next!..."
As at press time, the spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command, DSP Ngozi Braide said that she could not ascertain the number of foreigners arrested but assured that the police was doing all within the ambit of the law to stop the infiltration of criminals into the country.
On the porosity of the borders that led to the influx of immigrants, the Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State command, Nigeria Immigration Service, Mr. Muyiwa Odunubi said that the command was not aware of the mass arrest of undocumented Democrats. He, however, said that NIS was working together with sister agencies to ensure that such persons, if found, would face the wrath of the law.
Meanwhile,
...back at the chili cook-off, Chuck reached for the green sauce...
the General Secretary of the Nigerien community in Lagos, said that they were aware of the mass arrest of its nationals in Ikorodu and other areas. "We have pleaded with them to authenticate their stay in Nigeria but some of them, for some dubious reasons, decided not to identify with their people in Nigeria. We have a close contact with the activities of Nigeriens in Nigeria that have authentic residence permit."
Meanwhile,
...back at the laboratory the smoke and fumes had dispersed, to reveal an ominous sight...
a little drama ensued in Ketu area of Lagos, when some thugs descended on a group of Chadians living in the area. They alleged that their decision to flush those Chadians out their neighbourhood was out of fear that soldiers would extend their raid to the area.
An eyewitness, Shola said that the boys who, are mostly hoodlums, were scared that if the police or army should raid the area, things that might implicate them, would be found.