“When the BDC operators are arrested now, what will the government do with them? The Presidency is already saying their case is confidential. What is confidential about it?”
Mr Pantami’s call to Jihad and unalloyed support for murderous groups portray him as a dyed-in-the-wool Islamic fundamentalist.
An analyst said Boko Haram started out as a terrorist group maiming and bombing banks and other public facilities, while southern agitators started by making efforts to engage the authorities.
Abdul-Bas and Ibn Habib have long been identified as strategists for Boko Haram and placed on the most-wanted list by the Nigerian Army.
The official asserts that Boko Haram had no reach to carry out such an operation.
The sect says its operatives kidnapped hundreds of students to promote Islam.
