Military arrests suspected B’Haram kingpin, destroy bomb factory

AS troops of the Nigerian military continue the offensive against terrorists in the North East, a suspected notorious member of the Boko Haram sect was arrested on Sunday in Maiduguri, even as another brigade overran another terrorists camp, recovered some weapons and destroyed others.

A statement from the Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman said the suspect named John Trankil was arrested by troops of the 7 Division Garrison of the Nigerian Army of Operation Lafiya Dole at Kasuwar Shanu (cattle market) in Maiduguri metropolis. And has confessed to plans by nine of his other colleagues, who are also fully armed, to carry out a coordinated attack in different parts in the city.

According to him, “Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect said that nine of them sneaked into Maiduguri armed with AK 47 assault rifle each and a Hilux vehicle laden with 20 Improvised Explosive Devices meant to be detonated at some selected targets in the city.”

The Operation Commander, Maj. Gen. Yusha’u Abubakar, while commending the efforts of the troops reiterated the call on them to be more alert “and the public to be vigilant and security conscious particularly at all check points, markets, worship centres, motor parks and schools.”

Meanwhile troops of 21 Brigade Nigerian Army, with support from the Nigerian Air Force carried out another offensive on the terrorists’ location within the outskirt of Bama town in Borno State, destroying weapon making factory operated by the insurgents.

The statement reads in part, “In a related development, troops, while on offensive operations on Boko Haram terrorists location, with the support from the Nigerian Air Force discovered and destroyed the terrorists’ Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and rocket making factory along Bama-Gonin Kurmi within the outskirts of Bama town in Borno State.

“The items recovered include gas cylinders, welding machine, pipes and poles. Others include locally made rocket shells, large quantity of assorted chemicals, unprimed IEDs and various technical and laboratory equipment suspected to be stolen from schools’ laboratories around Bama before they were dislodged from the area.”