By Samuel Oyadongha

The Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, worldwide, has described Sunday’s security breach at the headquarters of Department of State Security, DSS, by members of the Boko Hram sect during which 21 persons were reportedly killed and two operatives injured, as a case of sabotage and called for a massive overhaul of security agencies in the country.

IYC, in a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Eric Omare, said that the shootout between the insurgents and security operatives a few kilometres from the country’s seat of power, was a joke taken too far.

Noting that though there were conflicting accounts of the incident, it alleged that there were saboteurs within the security circle aiding the insurgents.

It said: “There is no explanation for Boko Haram members having the effrontery to confront security agencies for more than two hours at the heavily fortified DSS headquarters, very close to the Presidential Villa, the nation’s seat of power.

“We note that there have been reports of countless cases of security agencies taking sides with Boko Haram and before the plans are carried out, the security information would leak same to Boko Haram members.

“Furthermore, there have also been reported cases of military checkpoints being removed few minutes to attacks by Boko Haram, without any response from the security agencies until the insurgents would have completed their attacks. The Yobe attack on the Federal Government College easily comes to mind.

“We  are aware that President Goodluck Jonathan appreciates the fact that there are Boko Haram apologists in his government, including within the security forces. However, it is not enough for Mr. President to note the infiltration of Boko Haram into his government, he must take drastic steps to address the issue.”

The body called on the President to carry out a massive overhaul of the security agencies to identify Boko Haram moles within the security agencies and fish them out before they cause the country more harm.

“We warn that no nation can win a battle, whether against terrorism or of any kind, in a situation where insurgents are actively aided by insiders. History tells us that infiltration of enemies into an opponent’s camp has led to nations losing war,” it said.