By Joseph Erunke
ABUJA-THE federal government is to launch probe into sources of materials used by the Boko Haram terrorist group in manufacturing Improvised Explosive Devices,IEDs, in the country.

Nigerian Army

This was even as it disclosed it has already identified the prevalent types of explosives, accessories, fertilizers and procursor chemicals being used by the terrorists to unleash carnage on innocent citizens and would soon block access to them.

The National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno, rtd, disclosed this Monday, in Abuja, while declaring open a five-day National Chemical Security Training Conference,organized by his office in conjunction with the Chemical Security Programme, CSP.

According to Monguno, the federal administration would henceforth focus its attacks on criminal networks of sourcing for materials used in preparing IEDs by the terrorists group.

Monguno, who spoke through the Coordinator of Counter Terrorism Centre, Rear Admiral Yem Musa, further said all relevant agencies involved in the procurement, use and control of harmful chemicals would be made to ensure that Nigeria comply with global best practices in the importation, storage, transportation and distribution of chemicals in the country.

” The Office of the National Security Adviser has over the years investigated series of Improvised Explosives Devices (IED) incidents, within the urban terrorism and insurgency theatre of operations and have been able to identify the prevalent types of explosives, accessories, fertilizers and precursor chemicals used in the preparation of the IEDs.

“IED attacks have become an integral part the Boko Haram Terrorist tactics. Over the years, nations faced with the threats and dual use of chemical substances and precursor for illicit and criminal activities, have evolved strategies to mitigate, pre-empt and respond to such threats.

” Similarly in Nigeria, we have also included counter IED initiatives in our National Counter Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST). The focus of this Strategy is to attack the criminal network of sourcing for the materials used in preparing the IEDs, including the various dual use chemicals, explosives/accessories and specific blends of fertilizers.

“Working with relevant stake holding Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) we have emplaced strategic measures to control the importation, transportation, storage and use of these sensitive substances, thereby taking them out of the reach of criminal elements.

“The MDAs are engaged as follows: National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) – For Chemical Control, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development (MMSD) – For Explosives and Accessories Control and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD)- For Fertilizer Control, “he said.

The NSA said his office had extended its efforts to curtail use of drugs and chemical to the human aspect of chemical security threat, stressing that “we have identified that most of these violent crimes , such as person borne IEDs are perpetrated under the influence of drugs.”

In his remarks, the Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye said time has come for the federal government to declare emergency in the drug and chemical sectors of the nation’s economy in view of the perversive use of drugs and the porous nature of the country’s borders.

“Some weeks ago about three trucks of Tramador were impounded, after NAFDAC received a tipped off on their exit from Apapa Port, we were told the substance were being transported to Yola, probably to Sambisa forest.

“You will all agree with me that it will be difficult for a normal person to strap around herself Improvised Explosive Devices, this is what our young girls are being made to do. It is because their minds have been stolen. Therefore we must do every thing possible to address this issue.”

Prof. Adeyeye lamented that NAFDAC for now is not allowed access to the nation’s port to check illegal importation of drugs, stressing that unless such anomally is corrected “we will be hiding our heads in the sands as fas as the the importation, storage and transportation of drugs and chemicals into the country are concerned.”

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas, called for intelligence sharing among all security agencies to check importation and smuggling of illicit drugs and dangerous chemical substance into the country.

Represented by Rear Admiral A B Adamu, the Naval Boss said while the Navy would continue to monitor the movements of dangerous and harmful chemicals by land and sea, it has become imperative for all stakeholders to do things that would lead to a most secured Nigeria under the present circumstance.