Why the Nigerian Terrorist May Have Defied Detection at the Airports – Role of Mercury

I am Kindson Munonye. It was quite shocking that such incident(involving a Nigerian born terrorist) could still be reported at a time when much emphasis is placed on security. I would like to draw attention to some happenings in Nigeria lately that may have some security implications.

I can’t say for a certainty the chemical and technical implication of the use of mercury to evade detection, but I know that the information I want to pass across to America via this email might be helpful in their fight against terrorism and to avert any further breach of security.

Lately, say, since 2008, a group from Saudi Arabia arrived Nigeria and have been around since then.

Their Mission?

In search for mercury and item with mercury content even of very little amount. The search went throughout Nigeria to the extent that items considered useless were bought by them (the team from Saudi   Arabia) at very towering prices. An example is the grandfather’s clock, the pendulum containing some amount of mercury was sold for as high as N7,000,000.00 (about $47,000.00). Other items bought include: some mercury containing metals used in old bed frames, old monochrome tv set etc.

The race for these items was so alarming that having any of these items in ones home becomes a security threats since hoodlums are reported to break into homes to get these items and sell the group mentioned earlier.

I also learnt that the same trend is going on in other countries.

The Nigerian authorities most likely got the hint of these events but probably could not take actions since the public may have found the development as a means to get fund in exchange for little or nothing. But I as IT personnel went in search for answers, and later was told by a friend that the mercury containing items had a role to play in helping criminals bypass trick security systems and avoid being detected.

I just want to draw attention to this trend so that all can see the real intention behind it.