The senior special assistant on media and publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, Shehu Garba has reacted to the visa row concerning the ISIS leader who was arrested while trying visit Nigeria.
Ahmad al-Assir, a fugitive radical preacher, also known as an “ISIS leader”, was arrested last weekend at a Lebanese airport while attempting to flee to Nigeria using fake travel documents.
Ahmad al-Assir was arrested by Lebanese authorities as he attempted to leave Lebanon to Nigeria via Cairo
Speaking on popular breakfast show, Sunrise Daily on Channels TV, Garba also commented on the rumoured revival of the national carrier in the aviation industry.
In response to the question if Nigeria is in touch with the Lebanese government about the arrested ISIS leader he said: “I believe that the Lebanese government could have been victims as well to what has just happened. Perhaps better equipment for our own mission, we ourselves will provide because the Lebanese couldn’t have perceived this.”
Garba also said: “All the things that have happened will be reported to the Nigerian government and the Nigerian government has commissioned an investigation and only the outcome will determine the next line of action.”
On the issuance of visa, the presidential spokesperson said: “I believe the outcome of the decision will help Nigeria to strengthen its own mechanism on the issuance of visas.”
However there is a report which indicates that al-Assir did not apply for the Nigerian visa at the embassy in Lebanon, which means the document could have been forged.
Meanwhile the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) have been paranoid over the issuance of visa to ISIS chief, Ahmed Al Assir, who was apprehended by Lebanese security operatives while he was on his way to Nigeria.
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