In the wake of Italy’s demand for explanation on the failed mission to rescue the British and Italian hostages killed in Nigeria on Thursday, dreaded sect, Boko Haram, has denied reports that it carried out the killing.
Those abducted and killed were Italian engineer, Francesco Molinara, 48, and a Briton, Chris McManus, 28.
Italy’s Foreign Minister, Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata, said on Friday that Rome was demanding that Britain provides details on the failed rescue bid “in the next hours.”
Sant’Agata said: “I asked for detailed information because we have a right to maximum clarity on this episode.
“I also communicated the immense suffering that this news caused an Italian family.
“And I insisted that the information we have requested be sent to us as soon as possible, in the coming hours.”
Italy condemned as “inexplicable” Britain’s failure to warn it ahead of time of an operation to rescue a pair of British and Italian hostages in Nigeria that resulted in their deaths.
President Giorgio Napolitano had earlier said: “The behaviour of the British government, which did not inform or consult with Italy on the operation that it was planning, really is inexplicable.
“There needs to be a political and diplomatic clarification.”
The Presidency said after the failed rescue bid that Boko Haram was behind the abduction and killing of the hostages.
But spokesman of the sect, Abul Qaqa, told reporters on Friday: “We are not behind the hostage taking … which led to the military operation yesterday in Sokoto in which the hostages were killed.
“We have never been involved in hostage-taking and it’s not part of our style and we never ask for ransom.
“We know how to settle our scores with anybody.
“Therefore the allegation that the kidnappers were members of our group is ridiculous.”
Qaqa said the government “had better get its facts straight and find the true identity of the kidnappers.
“They should not use us to mask their incompetence.”
Meanwhile in another development, the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted explosives coming into the country from South Africa.
The NCS intercepted the 11 cartons of explosives, which weighed 95 kilogrammes, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
The MMIA Customs Area Comptroller, Charles Edike, paraded those suspected to have imported the explosives.
Edike said the explosives were smuggled from South Africa into Nigeria on February 24 along with other items such as bullet proof jackets, security cameras and naval belts.
The items were, however, labelled as cartridges, powder devices and chargers.
Following an alert by officials of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Limited, security agencies swopped on the consignments kept in the handling agency’s warehouse at the airport.
The company behind the importation was said to be Miero Marble Granite and Stones Limited in Kaduna State, while one Michael Awara Ernest was the representative detailed to collect the explosives at the cargo terminal.
The name of the manufacturer of the explosives was given as Nobleteq Arms and Ammunition of Gateway Industrial Park in Centurion, South Africa.
Edike added: “There was no documentation or duty paid.
“The explosives were concealed in pallets containing other items.
“Even the law does not permit that any consignment can be released without physical examination, which must be done after the relevant payments have been made.
“In this case, the explosives were almost released, but the vigilance of our officials led to the discovery.”