by Isi Esene
The Joint Military Task Force, ‘Operation Restore Order’ in Borno
yesterday alerted residents of the state that members of the militant
Islamic sect, Boko Haram are perfecting plans to launch a massive attack
during the Eid-el-fitr festivities.
According to the JTF spokesman, Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa, people living in
the Maiduguri metropolis and Jere Local Government must be security
conscious during the celebrations.
“In the continued efforts to destroy all acts of terrorism in Borno
State, the Joint Task Force, JTF, wishes to alert citizens and residents
of the state of the impending plans by Boko Haram to carry out massive
attacks and bombings in Maiduguri metropolis and other parts of Borno
State any moment from now and during the Eid-el- Fitr Sallah
celebration.”
He advised residents to be more concerned and vigilant about the happenings in and around their immediate environments.
“The public are also reminded to be cautious and to report any
suspicious movement, actions and abandoned objects in public places,
particularly those in polythene bags and other sacks to the nearest
security checkpoints for immediate action.
“The JTF further reminds the people of Borno State that although the
curfew has been reviewed to 11p.m. to 6a.m. daily, checks are
continuously being conducted throughout the night to ensure safety,
security of lives and properties as well as consolidating on the
successes recorded so far in our collective fight against terrorism,”
Sagir stated.
Read the Nigerian Eye report below:
Also yesterday, the Inspector- General of Police,
Mohammed Abubakar, said the war on terror was far from being won, nearly
three months since a state of emergency was declared in three states in
the North-East.
He hailed security forces for placing their lives on the line to
fight organised terror gangs, stressing however that the occasional
resurgence of terror attacks in some parts of the country were sad
reminders that the battle was not yet over.
The IGP, who spoke in Abuja at a security review meeting with
AIGs in charge of zones and formations across the federation, urged
police officers, particularly assistant inspectors- general of police,
AIGs, to wake up from their “perceived slumber” and tackle headlong the
wave of insecurity in their zones. “Daily situation reports bear sad
testimonies to this phenomenon.
In spite of the emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states,
the insurgents still inflict untold hardships on peace-loving and
innocent residents of these states.
“The explosion in Sabon- Gari area of Kano metropolis is another
painful reminder that the war against terrorism is not over yet,”
Abubakar said.
The police boss said that apart from redoubling their efforts,
all AIGs must restructure their existing crime-fighting architecture to
ensure that their zones, commands and formations are kept safe and
secure.
He said ahead of the Eidil- Fitr celebrations and the forthcoming
gubernatorial elections in Anambra and Ekiti states, police officers
must step up their game and ensure that security is provided fully in
such areas.
The IG’s statement came even as the Defence Headquarters said its
Special Forces and their Nigerien counterparts had succeeded in foiling
attempts by some fleeing Boko Haram members to regroup and launch
vicious attacks in the border areas between Nigeria and Niger Republic.
Director, Defence Information, Brig- Gen. Chris Olukolade, who
stated this in Abuja yesterday, explained that the group had aimed to
regroup, procure a large cache of arms and launch fresh attacks in some
parts of the country. He said that Special Forces also captured a top
Boko Haram commander and his accomplices.
Although, he did not disclose their identities, Olukolade said
they were currently being interrogated to determine their level of
involvement in terrorism.
“The plan by a band of terrorists who relocated to Niger Republic
to remobilise and re-arm insurgents with the aim of carrying out fresh
terrorists attacks on some Nigerian communities has been foiled.
“The leader of the group, who had fled Nigeria when the terrorist
camps were sacked, was reportedly recruiting fresh hands and training
them for renewed terrorist activities in Nigeria. “The intention of the
group is to focus its attacks on some towns around the Nigeria-Niger
Republic border,” he said.
The spokesman added that intelligence operatives of the MNJTF had
been on the trail of the leader until he was eventually arrested in
Karanga, Niger Republic, at the weekend with the cooperation of the
Nigerien forces.
In Kano State, business activities have remained low in the
commercial city, even as residents in Sabon Gari, with an estimated
three million population, are still gripped by fear, following the
devastating bomb attacks on Monday, which left over 40 people dead.
Also, fun seekers have abandoned the various cool spots since the
incident.
National Mirror’s findings revealed that most of the fun spots in
Sabon Gari, especially those located on Enugu and New Road, remained
shut. The areas with large concentration of beer parlours and other
entertainment and hospitality establishments have been deserted since
the bomb attacks
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