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Nigeria: Senator Arraigned on Terror Charges
Powerful politicians helped form a radical Muslim sect responsible for hundreds of killings this year in Nigeria, authorities allege, but now may have lost control of the monster they created.
The State Security Service said it made a breakthrough in uncovering support for the extremist group Boko Haram when it arrested Ali Sanda Umar Konduga, who the agency said was one of several spokesmen for Boko Haram. The secret police agency described Konduga as a “political thug” who received orders from a member of Nigeria’s parliament.
Konduga, who purportedly used the nom de guerre al-Zawahiri when speaking on Boko Haram’s behalf, allegedly implicated a member of the National Assembly in the group’s activities. Konduga’s nickname derives from al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, though Boko Haram has no known direct ties with his group.
On Tuesday, authorities arrested and arraigned Sen. Mohammed Ali Ndume of Nigeria’s ruling People’s Democratic Party for allegedly being Konduga’s sponsor. The senator belonged to a committee looking at possible peace talks with Boko Haram.
The arrest rattled Nigeria’s Senate, which held a hasty closed-door meeting Tuesday. Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe, who serves as a spokesman for the legislative body, said the lawmakers discussed “the security situation” but declined to give details.
Abaribe said he is waiting to see proof from police that Ndume is involved with Boko Haram, a terrorist group that carried out a suicide bomb attack on the U.N. headquarters in Nigeria’s capital on Aug. 26 that killed 24.
“It’s still an allegation and investigations are going on,” Abaribe told African Independent Television. “We are encouraging the security agencies to continue with their investigation.”
