Security Seal Off Abuja’s Amigo Supermarket over Owner’s Alleged Terrorism Link

The popular Amigo supermarket in Abuja was sealed off by the Nigeria security agencies on Friday’s evening. The mall is owned by a Lebanese who is accused of being part of an uncovered terrorist cell.

The Joint Task Force in Kano on Thursday named Fauzi Fawad, a co-owner of Amigo and Wonderland Amusement Park, Abuja’s largest, as allegedly part of a Lebanese Hezbollah cell operating in Nigeria.

Both public areas were open on Friday as shoppers and visitors, many unaware of Mr. Fawad’s alleged involvement, continued their transactions. Wonderland also allowed visitors in without the basic entry fee.

“I don’t know about the owners terrorism links, I just came here to get some stuff,” Chuks Nweze, a shopper at Amigo, said.

The sealing was not done by the police. The sources from the Nigeria security agencies said the sealing was done by the Department of State Security, SSS, who did not want to raise any alarm among the public and so waited till late in the evening to seal off both buildings.

Mr. Fawad is currently on the run, the JTF said after investigations by the SSS.

The JTF said they arrested three Lebanese in various raids in Kano and recovered heavy weaponry including anti-tank guns, rocket propelled grenades from a bunker in the house used by the foreigners.

They said the three arrested all named Mr. Fawad as being part of their cell.

The Lebanese community in Kano has already distanced itself from the actions of those arrested.