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Nigeria: Hezbollah armoury discovered in Kano city | Nigeria: Hezbollah armoury discovered in Kano city |
(6 months later) | |
An armoury belonging to the Lebanese group Hezbollah has been discovered in northern Nigeria, the West African nation's army and spy agency has said. | An armoury belonging to the Lebanese group Hezbollah has been discovered in northern Nigeria, the West African nation's army and spy agency has said. |
Three Lebanese nationals have been arrested, an army spokesman, Brig Gen Ilyasu Isa Abba, said. | Three Lebanese nationals have been arrested, an army spokesman, Brig Gen Ilyasu Isa Abba, said. |
The cache, including rifles, anti-tank weapons and an RPG, were found in a warehouse in the city of Kano, he said. | The cache, including rifles, anti-tank weapons and an RPG, were found in a warehouse in the city of Kano, he said. |
Nigeria's State Security Service said they were intended for use against "Israeli and Western interests". | Nigeria's State Security Service said they were intended for use against "Israeli and Western interests". |
"This is the handwork of Hezbollah," Bassey Ettang, director of the State Security Service in Kano said. | "This is the handwork of Hezbollah," Bassey Ettang, director of the State Security Service in Kano said. |
"What has just been discovered is a cell of Hezbollah and what you have seen here is a Hezbollah armoury," he told journalists in Kano on Thursday. | "What has just been discovered is a cell of Hezbollah and what you have seen here is a Hezbollah armoury," he told journalists in Kano on Thursday. |
Brig Gen Ilyasu Isa Abba said 11 anti-tank weapons, four anti-tank mines, a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) and 21 RPG missiles, 17 AK-47s, two sub-machine guns and 76 grenades had been amongst the weapons found. | Brig Gen Ilyasu Isa Abba said 11 anti-tank weapons, four anti-tank mines, a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) and 21 RPG missiles, 17 AK-47s, two sub-machine guns and 76 grenades had been amongst the weapons found. |
The Lebanese owner of the warehouse where "the weapons of mass destruction" had been stored in sawdust was out of the country, he said | The Lebanese owner of the warehouse where "the weapons of mass destruction" had been stored in sawdust was out of the country, he said |
There is a large business Lebanese community in Kano city, the commercial hub of northern Nigeria. | |
It is the first time that Nigerian authorities have alleged that Hezbollah has an operational interest in the country. | It is the first time that Nigerian authorities have alleged that Hezbollah has an operational interest in the country. |
Kano and north-eastern Nigeria has suffered multiple attacks in the last three years since the home-grown Islamist militant group Boko Haram launched an insurgency. | Kano and north-eastern Nigeria has suffered multiple attacks in the last three years since the home-grown Islamist militant group Boko Haram launched an insurgency. |
Mr Ettang added: "You can also be sure that if a group like this is existing then it may even lend support to some of the local terrorists we have on the ground." | Mr Ettang added: "You can also be sure that if a group like this is existing then it may even lend support to some of the local terrorists we have on the ground." |
Hezbollah is a Shia military and political movement based in Lebanon considered by the US to be a terrorist organisation. | Hezbollah is a Shia military and political movement based in Lebanon considered by the US to be a terrorist organisation. |
Boko Haram, whose name means "Western education is forbidden", says its quest is to overthrow the Nigerian government and create an Islamic state. | Boko Haram, whose name means "Western education is forbidden", says its quest is to overthrow the Nigerian government and create an Islamic state. |
There has been growing concern that Boko Haram could be receiving backing from al-Qaeda-linked militants in other countries. | There has been growing concern that Boko Haram could be receiving backing from al-Qaeda-linked militants in other countries. |