A Nigerian Islamic scholar has told how an insurgent group based in Iran
contracted him to spy on and assassinate prominent Nigerians including
former military president General Ibrahim Babangida and former Sultan of
Sokoto, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki as well as American and Jewish citizens.
The State Security Service, SSS, yesterday paraded Mallam Abdullahi
Mustapha Berende, a 50 year old Islamic cleric from Kwara State, who
was tracked down by the service operatives while he and his lieutenants
were gathering valuable information for the Iranian insurgents.
But for the keen alertness of operatives of SSS the suspect, a Shiite
Islamic Sect scholar in Ilorin, Kwara State, would have carried his plot
to assassinate former President Ibrahim Babangida and former Sultan of
Sokoto, Ibrahim Dasuki in order to cause havoc in the Western part of
the country.
The Shiite leader, along with three of his accomplices, were said to be
collaborating with some unnamed Iranians, known to be operating a high
profile international terrorist network, to carry out the killings.
The suspects were also said to have been plotting against and spying on
American, Isreali and some other Western countries’ interests in the
country and had plotted to attack such facilities.
Berenda relocated from Ilorin to Lagos and with money running into
several millions gotten from the Iranian insurgents planned to expand
his tentacles to other South West states.
Briefing newsmen on the development, deputy director (Public Relations)
of the SSS, Marilyn Ogar, explained that for six months, the service was
on the trail of the suspects so as to determine their probable course
of action and to stop them from executing their plans.
Berende, who looked sober and forlorn when he was brought in before
newsmen, admitted having carried out the acts, but pleaded for
forgiveness and leniency.
According to him, “I regret what happened. It is embarrassing to me and
everyone around me. I still plead for forgiveness; the whole nation and
my family should forgive me and I really regret my actions.
When people who are not known to you display friendship, one should be
careful because you may not know the person’s motives. There are people
out there hunting for people to exploit and use to achieve their objectives.
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