Nigeria busts Iran-backed terror cell

February 21, 2013 02:34

Nigeria today busted a terrorist cell backed by 'Iranian handlers' with plans to kill a former military ruler and gather intelligence on movements of Americans and Israelis, officials said.

The cell planned to assassinate Nigeria's former military ruler General Ibrahim Babangida, and a former traditional ruler of Sokoto caliphate, Ibrahim Dasuki but was foiled by the country's secret police, the State Security Service.

The secret police paraded before journalists in Abuja, one Abdullahi Mustapha Berende, the group's head, said to be a leader of a Shiite Islamic sect in the north central city of Ilorin who confessed to planning to kill the men and expand a new terrorist network with the aid of a group from Iran.

Berende, who was arrested with three other persons said they were also spying on American, Israeli and some other Western countries' interests in the oil-rich African nation with the aim of attacking their facilities.

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