President Goodluck Jonathan last night condemned the killing of the British and Italian engineers in Sokoto State.
A statement by Special Advised (media and publicity) to the President, Reuben Abati read: “President Gooodluck Ebele Jonathan has condemned the killing of two kidnapped foreigners - an Italian and a British citizen - in Sokoto State Thursday, by their Boko Haram captors before they could be rescued by a joint security raid on the kidnappers’ hideout.
“Describing their death as sad, unfortunate and regrettable, the President on behalf of the Nigerian government and on his own behalf, extends heartfelt condolences to the families of the bereaved and the people and government of Britain and Italy.
“The President who particularly commended the cooperation and understanding of the British and Italian governments, assured that the perpetrators of the murderous act, who have all been arrested, would be made to face the full wrath of the law.
“President Jonathan also assured that the Nigerian government would take every necessary step to protect the lives of foreigners in the country.
The State Security Service (SSS) has arrested a Boko Haram factional leader, Abu Mohammed and four others over the killing of Briton Chris McManus and Italian Franco Lamolinara.
Eight Boko Haram members were shot dead in the crossfire during the attempt to free the hostages before they were killed.
There were indications that the Boko Haram sect in Sokoto was backed by al-Qaeda in the kidnapping and killing of the hostages.
A top security source, who spoke in confidence, gave graphic details of the last minute efforts by security agencies to set free the hostages alive.
The source said: “As at Monday, security agencies, the police and the military had sufficient information that the hostages were held captive in Sokoto.
“By Tuesday, the security agencies were able to arrest Mohammed and four members of the sect.
“These five suspects, still undergoing interrogation, showed the security agencies the compound where the hostages were holed up.
“But they also raised concern that the hostages might be killed unless security agencies quickly moved into the compound to free them. They admitted that they were being backed by Al-Qaeda.
“Based on the information, security agencies mapped out strategies to invade the compound. But the Boko Haram members keeping the hostages suspected that something was wrong when for two days their leader, Abu Mohammed and four others did not return to the compound.”
“We are suspecting that the hostages were killed to pre-empt onslaught on the compound by security agencies and the military.”
Notwithstanding, the security agencies were able to kill eight members of Boko Haram during the invasion of the compound.
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