The father,Alhaji Umar Mutallab, who is a responsible and respected Nigerian with a true Nigerian spirit, had earlier reported his concerns about his son's activities to the relevant American authorities.
VOA: standard.2009.12.28
His target was believed to have been the most senior Muslim leader in Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Garbai El-Kanemi.
"The problem was caused by those who were preaching against it, " says Alhaji Attahiru Ahmad, the Emir of Anka in the northern-western state of Zamfara.
In a second attack a few weeks later, a suicide bomber tried to kill the traditional leader of the Fika emirate in Yobe state, Alhaji Muhammed Abali Ibn Mohammed Idrisa.