ABUJA — A bone-chilling scandal has erupted at the heart of Nigeria’s security apparatus, following explosive allegations that the Federal Government imported a highly toxic, odorless chemical from Poland to be used against its own citizens.
The controversy centers on Thallium Sulphate—a substance so lethal and difficult to detect that it has historically been dubbed the “poisoner’s poison.”
The “Odorless Killer” Allegation
The storm broke when former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai fired off a formal letter to National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, demanding an explanation for the reported procurement of 10 kilograms of the toxin.
Activist Omoyele Sowore has reportedly corroborated the claims, suggesting that the chemical has already been brought into the country and is intended for use against “troublesome” opposition figures and vocal citizens. Thallium Sulphate is tasteless and odorless; once ingested, it destroys the nervous system and leads to a slow death that often mimics natural organ failure.
ONSA Fires Back: “Show Us the Receipts”
The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has issued a blistering denial, describing the reports as “wicked fabrications.”
The ONSA stated it has never initiated any process to purchase such a chemical and has officially referred the matter to the Department of State Services (DSS) for a full-scale investigation. The government has now effectively dared El-Rufai to “tender his evidence” or face the consequences of spreading “dangerous misinformation.”
“A Nation of Assassins?” — Nigerians React with Horror
While the political heavyweights trade legal threats, the Nigerian public has reacted with a mix of visceral fear and biting criticism.
- “Is This Governance or a Cartel?”:Â “We are struggling to buy a bag of rice, and our leaders are allegedly shopping for poison in Poland,” remarked one Abuja-based trader. “If they can tap phones and import ‘silent killers,’ then nobody is safe.”
- The “Shadow War” Critique: Many Nigerians have blasted the National Security Adviser, arguing that the office is more focused on “high-level beef” than actual national security. “While the North is burning, the NSA is busy exchanging ‘poison letters’ with El-Rufai. It’s a national embarrassment,” a popular commentator on X noted.
- Medical Fears: “In a country where we can’t even diagnose common ailments correctly, how are we supposed to survive an odorless toxin?” queried a medical practitioner in Lagos.
The “Bestie” Fallout
The “Poison Plot” is the latest chapter in the messy divorce between El-Rufai and his former close ally, Nuhu Ribadu. It follows El-Rufai’s recent admission that his team bugged the NSA’s phone, where he claimed to have heard plots for his own “neutralization.”
As the DSS prepares to invite El-Rufai to substantiate his claims, the question remains: Is this a genuine whistleblower alert saving Nigerian lives, or the ultimate “scorched earth” tactic in a political war?
