Written by Edekyn Liofuan Friday, 01 April 2011EMBATTLED Libyan leader, Muammar Ghadaffi, bowed to international pressure and escaped to Nigeria, on Thursday night, apparently to avert onslaught from North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) which took over operations in the country, on Thursday.
The defection of Libyan foreign minister, Musa Kusa –– one of his closest confidants to Britain –– on Wednesday night, possibly added to Ghadaffi’s misery, hence his resolve to flee.
Ghadaffi, who ruled his country for the past 42 years, was sighted at the border between Sokoto and Niger Republic at 8.47p.m., on Thursday night.
Reports said normads at the border drew the attention of Nigerian security operatives to the presence of “a group of people behaving strangely”.
Upon arrival at the scene, the security operatives not satisfied by the group’s answers to their questions, decided to search them.
It was in the process of the search that a man that was dressed like a beggar and with a walking stick appeared to be Ghadaffi.
The (former) strongman of Libya, whose glamorous lawyer daughter –– Aisha –- who once worked for deposed Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein, joined the anti-rebels battle recently, disguised with the aid of fake beards, moustache and a wig on his head.
He wore a bullet proof under T-shirt and jeans jacket and a pair of jeans trousers. He wore a babaringa over the western wears.
Billions of dollars were recovered from the camels and horses that he and his entourage were riding on. They numbered about 56 in all.
Some weapons, including a plethora AK-47 rifles and bullets were also recovered from the world’s most wanted man after al-Qaeda kingpin, Osama bin Laden.
Security sources said Ghadaffi, who world leaders at the London conference on Libya, on Tuesday night, wanted to flee to Uganda. Though he looked pale, he was said to have pulled a pistol in his bid to escape but the vigilant Nigerian security operatives frustrated his effort.
He was shot in the leg in the process. Nine of his bodyguards were killed in the confrontation while three others were wounded.
You have just become one of our numerous April Fools! It is one of those things at this times of the year. Were you able to fool somebody today? If not, you could try again next year.
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