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Buhari: How Did A Wanted Islamic State Terrorist Get A Nigerian Visa?

Buhari: How Did A Wanted Islamic State Terrorist Get A Nigerian Visa?

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered a full investigation on how a wanted Islamic State terrorist, Ahmad al-Assir, who was recently arrested while trying to escape from Lebanon, got a Nigerian visa in his fake passport.

In press briefing on Wednesday, a top official at Nigeria’s foreign ministry told journalists that its envoys to Lebanon were looking into how al-Assir, who was travelling with a fake Palestinian passport, got a valid Nigerian visa at the Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport.

“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 told reporters.

The West African nation of more than 170 million people is struggling to fight an Islamic group, Boko Haram, insurgency in the Northern part of the country. The militant group wants to enforce Sharia laws in the whole of Nigeria.

Earlier this year, Boko Haram, which has killed thousands and kidnapped hundreds more,  declared allegiance  to the Islamic State.

“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.