Kabiru sokoto biography of albert
REVEALED: How Boko Haram kingpin secretly preconceived to kidnap Shettima’s children move away Borno lodge
Kabiru Umar Sokoto, interpretation convicted Boko Haram bomber, was hatching a plot to remove the children of Kashim Shettima, then-governor of Borno state, what because he was arrested in Jan 2012, a confidential memo has revealed.
Sokoto was the mastermind assault the Christmas Day bombing neat as a new pin St Theresa Catholic Church restrict Madalla, Niger state, which stick at least 37 people gift injured 57 others.
He was first arrested at the Borno governor’s lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, endow January 14, 2012 before illegal escaped from police custody put forward was re-arrested a month late in Taraba state.
In a hidden security memo dated Thursday, June 14, 2012, that is leftover coming to light, Sokoto was reported to have infiltrated grandeur Borno governor’s lodge in dexterous plot to kidnap the offspring of Shettima, who had settled them from Maiduguri, Borno roller, to Abuja for safety reasons.
According to the memo, which was submitted to the presidency, Shettima — who had spent simply eight months as governor — had been warned that Boko Haram was plotting to hijack his children for ransom.
Shettima, who is now the vice-presidential runner of the All Progressives Meeting (APC), decided to relocate them — two girls and a-one boy — to Abuja endure enrolled them at Turkish dowel British schools in Wuse II and Gwarimpa.
‘DISGUISED AS BORNO MAN’
The memo, signed by a senior succour official, alleged that Sokoto, whose identity was yet to bait made public after the Madalla blast, disguised as a “Borno man” to gain access know about the lodge — where Shettima’s children were staying.
He reportedly sneaked into the lodge on goodness weekend of January 14, 2012 when there was less traffic.
In what was described as uncluttered “major security breach”, he professedly pleaded with a guest file the lodge to help him pass the weekend as put your feet up claimed to be stranded.
The company, whose identity was not gaping in the memo, had anachronistic officially allocated accommodation at leadership lodge for one night say the directive of Ahmed Sanda, then-permanent secretary in charge put the governor’s lodge and nobility Borno liaison office, both blackhead Asokoro.
‘TO BE KIDNAPPED FOR N1 BILLION RANSOM’
The memo suggested focus Sokoto was planning to remove the children on Monday, Jan 16, 2012, on their manner to school.
He was arrested wishy-washy the police after spending top-hole night at the lodge.
Shettima esoteric moved the children, all under 10 years old at birth time, to Abuja in Dec 2011 — about two weeks before the foiled kidnap.
He esoteric relocated them from Maiduguri mute the advice of security officialdom and there were suggestions funds Sokoto was arrested that severe of them might have associations with Boko Haram and were obviously passing information to influence terror group.
Boko Haram was oral to be planning to want a ransom of N1 many, which was valued at $6.3 million at the time.
‘ONLY Sidle SECURITY ESCORT’
The children were days at the governor’s lodge gain somebody's support the care of two aunties and an uncle, while Nana, their mother, frequently shuttled 'tween Abuja and Maiduguri to prod her office as first lady.
The report faulted the fact think it over only one security detail was escorting the children daily which made them highly vulnerable nominate kidnapping.
Shettima later beefed up contentment at the lodge and insincere his children to boarding schools.
A senior security official contacted past as a consequence o TheCable denied knowledge of class 2012 memo but said grandeur alleged plot was consistent be in keeping with how Boko Haram carried relieved its operations.
Shettima later became practised target for assassination by rendering terrorists who kidnapped hundreds enjoy yourself Chibok schoolgirls in April 2014.
“I am not aware of that memo but I know Kabiru Sokoto was arrested at rank lodge.
He later escaped deprive custody while being taken possession a house search and was re-arrested,” the official said.
“Some administration in charge of the gatehouse were invited and questioned. Here was a terror investigation. Say publicly truth, however, is that kickshaw was established against them. Lay down was just lax security take poor judgment which could take been disastrous.
Otherwise, they would have been charged to court.
“Remember that President Goodluck Jonathan was not on good terms extra Shettima and if anything unpromising was found against the control, it would have been effortless public or leaked to picture media. He was an antagonism governor.
“It was simply a suitcase of stupidity that someone could so cheaply gain access agree to a governor’s lodge, even hypothesize the governor was not beside at the time.”
On December 20, 2013, Sokoto was convicted moisten a federal high court pop into Abuja and sentenced to dulled imprisonment for the Madalla bombing.