NIGERIA: SSS DG ARE ON AL QAIDA

S E C R E T ABUJA 003238

SIPDIS


NOFORN


DEPT FOR AF/W, AF/RA AND S/CT


E.O. 12958: DECL: 1.6X1, 1.6X5, 1.6X6
TAGS: PREL PTER ASEC NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: SSS DG ARE ON AL QAIDA

REF: A. STATE 208320

B. ABUJA 2560

C. ABUJA 2405


(U) Classified by Ambassador Howard F. Jeter; Reasons 1.6X1,
1.6X5, 1.6X6.



1. (S/NF) During a December 11 call on State Security Service
Director General Kayode Are, Ambassador Jeter (accompanied by
RAO and PolMilOff) thanked Are for the GON's efforts to
combat terrorism and to ensure the safety of official and
non-official Americans in Nigeria. Jeter presented reftel
points, emphasizing the need for Nigeria to be sensitive to
the possibility that Taliban and Al Qaida members could
conceivably seek refuge here. Are said the SSS, in
cooperation with other Nigerian Security Agencies, remained
vigilant to that possibility. Are further noted that he had
heard a story about a Nigerian named "Agrah" who had been
identified as fighting for the Taleban, but dismissed the
story, saying that "Agrah" was not a Nigerian name.



2. (S/NF) Are stated that SSS investigations had increased as
a result of 9/11. In reference to the visa and entry/exit
stamps in one of the hijackers passport (also see Refs B and
C),Are said the SSS had concluded that the individual had,
in fact, never visited Nigeria. The visa was fraudulent,
there had been no entry card, and the signature on the entry
stamp was not that of the immigration officer on duty at the
time. Are speculated that the false documents had been
obtained from a Nigerian syndicate operating in Saudi Arabia.



3. (S/NF) Are asked if there were any connection between
Hizballah and Al Qaida? RAO said there did not appear to be
a direct connection (one being Shi'a; the other Sunni),but
that cross-pollination was always a possibility.



4. (S/NF) In response to Ambassador Jeter's question about
media reports of Nigeria deporting six Pakistani nationals,
Are explained that while no troubling connections had been
found between the Pakistani proselytizers and terrorism, the
decision was made to deport them now, but with the promise
that they might return next year. He explained that the
media had blown the story out of proportion drawing a
connection to terrorism. The Lagos-based Muslim NGO called
"Tabliq" organized the proselytizing trips, and had been
doing so for years. Are stated that he planned to meet with
the leaders of Tabliq to discuss their operations, and that
they should be allowed to continue if there were no illicit
connections. However, the SSS Director General expressed
concern regarding the funding for the organization, which
came through wire transfers from sources in Pakistan, India
and Malaysia.
Jeter