Top officers of some intelligence services in the country have uncovered attempts by some “unscrupulous elements” to pitch Senators of Northern extraction in the 10th National Assembly, NASS, against the masses.
The officers, who pleaded anonymity, told PRNigeria that the “mischievous persons’ ” hatchet job also aims to pit the nation’s security services against one another.
They asserted while reacting to a newspaper report alleging that an influential Northern Senator is closely being watched by security agencies in the country for reportedly spearheading terrorism, banditry and Kidnapping.
According to the report, the powerful lawmaker, who is also heading a sensitive committee in the Senate, has been identified as one of the sponsors and financiers of banditry and other terror-related activities in the North.
But a top-ranking intelligence officer, reacting to the report, told PRNigeria in confidence that their investigation has revealed those behind the story, which he described as a “fabrication. ”
He said: “Our discreet has unmasked those instigating the baseless story in the media. Presently, our security service is not prosecuting or investigating any Senator for sponsoring banditry or terrorism”.
Another senior military officer, who pleaded anonymity, said they had identified the mastermind of the media report aimed at ‘denigrating’ northern senators when PRNigeria confronted him with the newspaper report indicating a northern senator.
“However, I wish to inform you that we are reaching out to security agencies to ensure they find out those behind the sponsored negative campaign.
“During our investigation, we gathered that a retired security officer who is still in the service, having been retained, is the chief mastermind. The ex-security officer is from a state in the middle belt.
“But by the time we track him, he will be made to reveal the Senator he is accusing. Because you cannot pitch some group of people against Nigerians,” he said.