Govt not behind attack on Buhari - NSA

The National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) on Thursday said contrary to the claims by some individuals, the Federal Government was not behind the last week's attack on the convoy of a former military leader, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

He said as far back as February, the leader of the Boko Haram sect, Shekau, had threatened Buhari and some others, calling them infidels that must be dealt with.

Dasuki spoke while fielding questions from State House correspondents after the Council of State meeting during which the issue of the attack on Buhari came up for discussion.

He said, 'We said something about the attack on Buhari and Sheik Dahiru Bauchi. There was a threat as far back as February this year issued by Shekau calling them infidel by names and positions saying that they were in trouble and they were going to see.

'Well, the government was not responsible, and if you say that the government was responsible in the case of General Buhari, why don't you say the same in the case of Sheik Dahiru Bauchi?

'We said this not because we had facts but because it is what sells the paper. That is the most unfortunate thing. And we want to say that it was not only General Buhari, there were others mentioned too.'

On the fears that the Boko Haram sect might have started turning the schoolgirls abducted from Chibok, Borno State to female suicide bombers, Dasuki said the government did not have control over the girls since they were still in captivity.