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The Nigeria police on Friday said it had launched investigations into the allegation that the suspected leader of the Kenya mall attack, Samantha Lewthwaite, visited Nigeria and was allowed to escape by unknown policemen.
A UK-based newspaper, Daily Mirror, reported on Friday that Lewthwaite, the 29-year-old British woman, who was accused of masterminding the terrorist attack on Kenyan shopping mall in which over 60 people were killed, was in Nigeria and bribed police to evaded arrest.
The Police Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Frank Mba, who expressed doubts over the allegation, said the police would establish the veracity of the report.
Mba added that he had no information about the visit by the terror suspect, who had been declared wanted by the INTERPOL.
“I don’t have any information on the reported visit of the terror suspect, but the police have initiated an investigation into the allegation and we will establish the veracity or otherwise of the media report; that is the only thing I can say for now,” he said.
The newspaper stated that, “In Nigeria, where police forces are notoriously corrupt, there were reports that she (Lewthwaite) was almost caught a while ago, but she bribed her way out of trouble.
“If White Widow Samantha Lewthwaite is on the run she will be hard to catch. If a Lewthwaite were to be on the run in Kenya, Nigeria or Somalia, it would be easier to evade detection than in Europe. She would be wearing a veil, and sensitivities about searching Muslim women would be observed so she could easily slip through difficult checkpoints.
“In Nigeria, where police forces are notoriously corrupt, there were reports she was almost caught a while ago, but she bribed her way out of trouble,” the news report said.
The report further said due to tight-knit relationships Al-Shabaab as in Nigeria and other countries, it would be difficult to recruit agents to penetrate them and trace Lewthwaite.
“And Lewthwaite may hold a great deal of power as a special kind of jihadist, having proved her worth in previous attacks. As a white convert mum and widow of a 7/7 bomber, she would be invaluable propaganda and would command huge loyalty.
“Also, the austere nature of her adopted culture means she would rarely go out, so there would be few opportunities to follow her. Bounties have failed to nail jihadists as money has no value to individuals loyal to the cause,” the report stated.
