Buhari orders probe into how wanted Lebanese ISIS terrorist got Nigerian visa
Abuja — The Federal
Government has ordered a full investigation into how a wanted terrorist was
granted Nigerian visa in Lebanon to visit the country.
An official of the
Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Vanguard in Abuja,
yesterday, that President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs to investigate the circumstances surrounding the issuance of Nigerian
visa to the wanted terrorist who has been on the wanted list of several
governments.
It will be recalled that a radical
Muslim cleric, Ahmad al-Assir, was arrested by Lebanese authorities as he
attempted to leave Lebanon for Nigeria via Cairo.
He was said to have been arrested while
attempting to travel with a fake Palestinian passport with a valid Nigerian
visa at Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport on Saturday, August 15,
2015 in Lebanon.
According to the
official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who spoke with Vanguard on
condition of anonymity, the ministry has been directed to explain how the
wanted terrorist was able to get Nigerian visa.
“The reported arrest of the wanted
terrorist is a huge embarrassment to Nigeria and the president has directed
that the matter should be investigated.
The embassy in Lebanon has been directed
to furnish the ministry with details of how the man got the visa. The National
Intelligence Agency Officer has been directed to provide details of what
happened,” the official said.
The official added that Nigerian
embassies around the world keep a tab on wanted persons in their countries of
accreditation and “we are amazed that such a high profile terrorist would evade
our radar. This is a major breach that cannot be allowed to go without investigation.
“This is more so that the Boko Haram
sect has pledged allegiance to Islamic State terrorists. There is no way our
embassy officials will allow such laxity in their areas of operation. The
president is justifiably furious about it,” the source added.
For the full story, check the Vanguard Newspaper.
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