Foreign Nationals Still Wanted Over Plot to Destabilise Nigeria – Police

The Nigeria Police Force has reaffirmed that some foreign nationals remain on the wanted list for their alleged involvement in a plot to destabilise the Nigerian government.

According to the Police spokesman, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Olumuyiwa Adejobi, coordinated efforts with other security agencies led to the arrest of nine suspects involved in a plot to destabilise the government. British national Andrew Whynne and Lucky Ehis Obiyan, are still being sought, with a bounty placed on their heads for their alleged roles in terrorism financing.

ACP Adejobi stated this while reacting to questions from journalists at the monthly briefing of the Strategic Communications Interagency Policy Committee, which was hosted by the Nigerian Customs Service in Abuja, Nigeria’s Capital.

This revelation comes in the wake of the ‘End Bad Governance’ protest, during which over 800 arrests were made as security agencies intensified efforts to counter threats to national stability.

Also Read: Protests: Kano Police Arrest 873 Suspects

“Police and other security agencies conducted extensive operations during the nationwide ‘End Bad Governance in Nigeria’ protest, which spanned from August 1st to 10th during which police arrested a total of 873 individuals across several states in connection with various criminal activities such as armed robbery, arson, and vandalism, including Kano, Jigawa, FCT, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto, Yobe, Borno, Edo, and Gombe,” Adejobi said.

The Chief Host of the briefing, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who joined the later part of the briefing, emphasised that “the security agencies draw strength from each other to enhance the overall national security architecture, hence the Strategic Communications Interagency Policy Committee platform which enables the agencies to work together in enhancing synergy.”

Import duties

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) National Public Relations Officer (PRO), Abdullahi Maiwada, who read the briefing compiled by the security and response agencies said the service collected ₦277.5 billion in import duties and ₦15.8 billion in excise duties, reflecting its commitment to revenue maximisation.

Operation Whirlwind

The NCS PRO stated that the service has intensified its “Operation Whirlwind” (OPWW) to combat the smuggling of petroleum products, especially in border states, over the last month, which led to the interception of seven PMS trucks, the sealing of 12 retail outlets, and the seizure of 466,000 litres of PMS and 23 vehicles.

Correctional Centres

While fielding questions on the alleged poor feeding of inmates in the Correctional Centre, prisons spokesman Abubakar Umar said the minister of interior has ordered an investigation into the matter and the outcome of the investigation will be disclosed to the public.

He also revealed that the government has reviewed the feeding allowance of inmates to 50 % from August 2024 in the first phase of the implementation programme. He also stated that in the rehabilitation programme of the custodial service, some exceptional inmates have acquired degrees and higher degrees of learning, while an inmate has also successfully published four books.

The briefings by the Strategic Communications Interagency Policy Committee is part of ongoing efforts to ensure transparency and accountability on critical security issues affecting the country under the coordinated efforts of the Office of the National Security Adviser.