Residents of Maiduguri were yesterday awaken from their sleep as three bombs exploded in parts of the town making residents to scamper for safety.
The explosions which started at 2:00am and went on intermittently till about 2:15 am were greeted with sporadic gunfire which kept many residents awake till dawn.
The explosions were latter discovered to have happened at the Bayan Quarters, where the destroyed headquarters of the late Boko Haram former leader, Mohammed Yusuf’s enclave was built.
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A Cameroonian woman arrested during a JTF raid on sects hide-out in Kano.
Confirming the incident in a release, the spokesman of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Borno, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa said: “At about 2am last night, there were minor explosions at Bayan Quarters in the outskirts of Maiduguri metropolis which drew the attention of JTF patrol team.
”On reaching the area, two unexploded bombs were recovered and they were defused by the task force. No casualty was recorded.”
Follwing these multiple explosions, the Senate President David yesterday pleaded with members of the Boko Haram militants to make themselves available for the proposed dialogue with the Federal Government.
The Senate President who noted that the overture made by the Federal Government to brainstorm with members of the sect was a laudable one, however stressed that the Federal Government cannot engage in monologue with the sect.
Speaking yesterday at the Stakeholders’ Broadcast Summit organized by the Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON) held in Lagos, Senator Mark said, ‘’the members of the sect must be courageous enough to come out and state their grievances. “They should be bold and state their anger so that the nation can find solution to those grievances.
‘’There is no government that would fold her arms and watch innocent citizens being murdered in schools, markets, churches as well as mosques. This carnage has to stop.
‘’As brothers and sisters, we must listen to each other’s grievances. I believe that in line with this, the Federal Government has expressed readiness for dialogue and I urge the members of the Boko Haram, their representatives, sponsors and sympathizers to key into this dialogue.”
Speaking to news men on the incidence, the JTF spokesman further revealed that in another incident, the troops at about 08:30 hours had an encounter with suspected sect members at the Customs Bridge within Maiduguri during which a sect member was killed.
He further said two members of the notorious sect were arrested and 20 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition and a tricycle, popularly called Keke NAPEP were also recovered.
Musa said no casualty was recorded on the part of the task force, while claiming the situation has normalized and everyone should go about their lawful businesses without fear.
He further said two members of the notorious sect were arrested and 20 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition and a tricycle, popularly called Keke NAPEP were also recovered.
Musa said no casualty was recorded on the part of the task force, while claiming the situation has normalized and everyone should go about their lawful businesses without fear.
Meanwhile, the force in Kano arrested a high profile sect leader, his wife and five children yesterday. The troops early morning raided Farawa quarters, a sprawling slum in Kumbotso Local Government area of the municipality and arrested the sect leader identified as Suleiman Mohammed who is suspected to hail from Ogbomosho, Osun state, South West Nigeria.
JTF sources confided in Saturday Vanguard that the high profile suspect and his entire family have been flown to Abuja for interrogation.
Saturday Vanguard learnt that counter terrorism personnel that stormed the residence recovered 3 pistols, one AK47 assault riffle, one thousand live ammunition and wired Improvised Explosive Devices.
Saturday Vanguard learnt that counter terrorism personnel that stormed the residence recovered 3 pistols, one AK47 assault riffle, one thousand live ammunition and wired Improvised Explosive Devices.
It was also gathered that when the JTF raided his residence and arrested him, there was no shoot-out between him and the soldiers.
Confirming the incident to reporters in Kano, Police Commissioner, Mr Ibrahim Idris said that “we made the arrest at Farawa quarters this morning”, adding that details of the suspect is not for public consumption now.
Ibrahim Idris further revealed that military hardwares and explosives were recovered from Mohammed’s residence after the raid, stressing that “investigation has commenced on the arrested suspect.”
Confirming the incident to reporters in Kano, Police Commissioner, Mr Ibrahim Idris said that “we made the arrest at Farawa quarters this morning”, adding that details of the suspect is not for public consumption now.
Ibrahim Idris further revealed that military hardwares and explosives were recovered from Mohammed’s residence after the raid, stressing that “investigation has commenced on the arrested suspect.”
Security agencies are suspecting the arrested sect leader in the state as the man behind series of attacks on security agencies, churches and the silent killing of the innocent citizens of the state.
The high profile arrest yesterday morning in Kano coincided with the recovery of seven trucks of empty cans from an uncompleted building in Kano metropolis.
The Commissioner of Police said that the cans numbering thousands were veritable components in making low calibre IED’s.
The Commissioner of Police said that the cans numbering thousands were veritable components in making low calibre IED’s.
The CP enjoined the public to always endeavour to destroy such soft drink cans to frustrate criminal elements from converting them to use as weapons...
The CP enjoined the public to always endeavour to destroy such soft drinks can to frustrate criminal elements from converting them to use as weapons.
Vanguard Nigeria
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