Soldiers arrest seven Boko Haram bomb experts

Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai

Fidelis Soriwei, Abuja
The Nigerian Army has arrested seven suspected Boko Haram
bomb experts who specialised in the production of Improvised
Explosive Devices.
The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman,
said in a statement on Sunday that the terror suspects were
arrested by the soldiers in Kaduna.
He said that the seven suspected insurgents were picked up
‘after painstaking surveillance and proactive intelligence
operations over a period of time.’
Usman said that the members were in Kaduna to conduct
suicide attacks and perpetrate mayhem in the city during the
festive period.
He recalled that some suspected Boko Haram bombers were
also picked up by the security agents while attempting to
detonate bombs concealed in food containers in public places in
Maiduguri.
Usman said that the arrest of the suspects would aid the
ongoing campaign against the insurgency in the North East.
The Acting Army spokesman said the insurgents were launching
attacks on soft targets through suicide bombing, and
harassment of isolated communities because the military had
‘technically defeated the Boko Haram insurgents in the field.’
Usman who urged members of the public to be more vigilant
and security conscious, said that the terrorists were devising
new methods to launch attacks on the citizenry.
He stated that the Boko Haram insurgents had started mingling
with the members of the public to carry out their attacks, since
the military overpowered them in the North East.
“Another catastrophe was averted in Kaduna State and other
contiguous areas when troops of the Nigerian Army arrested
seven suspected Boko Haram terrorists’ bomb and Improvised
Explosive making Devices specialists.
“The terrorists were arrested in Kaduna after painstaking
surveillance and proactive intelligence operations over period of
time.
“From all indications, the suspects were in Kaduna to conduct
suicide bombings, kill and maimed innocent citizens in the state
and other surrounding areas during the festive period. Recall
that recently in Maiduguri some of them were arrested while
trying to detonate IEDs hidden in food containers in public
places.
“The arrest of these suspects would no doubt assist in the fight
against terrorism in the country; more so as the military has
technically defeated the Boko Haram terrorists in the field, the
terrorists have resorted to attacking soft targets through suicide
bombings, IEDs and harassment of isolated communities.
“Therefore, the public are please requested to continue to be
more vigilant and security conscious by reporting suspicious
persons and movements to the security agencies.
“This request has become necessary because the terrorists
have resorted to mingling with the public across the country
after sensing the futility of their encounter with troops in the
north east. Therefore, they adopt other methods of perpetrating
violence in the society.” The statement read.