The federal government has said it has uncovered plans by Boko Haram insurgents to hide and detonate explosives using livestock such as goats, cows, donkeys and camels.
Coordinator of the National Information Centre (NIC) and Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri, at a briefing on Thursday in Abuja, also revealed that the sect was planning to arm young male suicide bombers such as cobblers to attack soft targets in the country.
Omeri said the young bombers would hide explosives in their toolboxes and detonate in populated areas including markets, restaurants, political rallies, ATMs locations and worship centres.
“Available intelligence reports indicate a plan by Boko Haram to use young male suicide bombers disguised as cobblers to hide explosives in their toolboxes and detonate them in soft areas such as markets, restaurants, ATM locations, political rallies, worship centres as well as other public places,” he said.
“Also, there is indication of a plan by this group to use livestock such as goats, cow, donkeys and camels laden with explosives to attack chosen targets.
“In view of these, persons who rear goats and cows in the centre are advised in their own interest to restrict such movements because actions could be taken, and nobody should blame the police and other security agencies for taking the necessary steps,” he said.
He advised the general public, including those working within and around the aforementioned places, to be vigilant and mindful of suspicious activities within their environment.
Omeri added that there were also unconfirmed reports from IDP camps that they had been infiltrated by Boko Haram insurgents and urged development partners to visit the various camps to ascertain the true situation.
“Most recently, it was discovered that some IDP camps had been infiltrated by agents of the insurgents. Unfortunately, these reports have been adopted as the true situation by international organisations and the media,” he said.
Omeri, who confirmed the release of some persons by the sect members, said those released were undergoing counselling in the custody of military authorities.
“Authoritatively, we can confirm to you that these persons are currently undergoing counselling at a military facility in Yobe, after which they will return home to rejoin their kith and kin,” Omeri said.
Last week, the sect members had reportedly released 192 out of the 218 people abducted from Katarko town in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.
It has also emerged that child soldiers and teenage female suicide bombers were used by Boko Haram during its multiple attacks on Maiduguri, Kodunga and Monguno in Borno State last weekend.
Disclosing this to THISDAY, military sources said troops were taken aback when they were confronted by children and teenage girls who were being used by the Islamist sect.
“The most callous aspect of the attacks was the conscription and deployment of child soldiers, teenage female suicide bombers and animals to frustrate the troops,” the officer said.
The military also condemned the unpatriotic actions of some residents of the affected communities, who were also blamed for aiding and abetting the terrorists by providing information about troops’ movements and wondered how the military could succeed in the fight against terrorists when those they are supposed to be defending are the real enemies.
Meanwhile, Chad and Nigerian troops have driven Boko Haram militants out of Malamfatori and Michika towns in Borno and Adamawa States, respectively.
A senior official from Niger told BBC Thursday that Malamfatori, which lies near the borders of Chad and Niger, was captured following two days of fighting.
Both ground and air forces were reported to have been used in the assault.
Niger officials said Chadian ground forces moved into the town after crossing Lake Chad. It is not known if the operation was approved by Nigeria.
Boko Haram insurgents have carried out a number of cross-border attacks on Nigeria’s neighbours in recent months, attacking villages and military bases.
The Islamist group has seized dozens of people and taken them back to North-east Nigeria, where it controls a swathe of territory.
The Nigerian authorities have said they are doing all they can to tackle the militants but neighbours, including Niger and Cameroun, have said more must be done.
Chad has already sent troops to Cameroun to help it counter Boko Haram incursions and last week Nigeria said the Chadian army would be fighting on its territory.
Confirming the recapture of Malamfatori, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said in a twitter post that the town is within the Area of Operation (AOR) covered by the Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF) of which Chad has always been a part.
DHQ added that the Nigerian Air Force has also been conducting air missions in the area for the past two days.
People, who fled the area, told the BBC they had seen military planes bombing the town, which is on the shores of Lake Chad.
Some of those who left the town during the fighting were reported to have crossed into Niger.
Reports from the area said fighting also spread to a nearby town, Abadam.
Also, President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday disclosed that Nigerian troops had liberated Michika Local Government Area in Adamawa State from the control of Boko Haram insurgents.
The president made the disclosure at his presidential campaign rally in Yola, saying that the troops are determined to reclaim all the remaining territories in the hand of the insurgents.
He dispelled attacks by the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), international community and many Nigerians that he has been weak in the handling of the insurgency in the North-east, saying that Adamawa State would be the first to be freed from the excesses of the terror sect.
The president said that of the five local government areas captured by the insurgents in Adamawa, the troops had recaptured all but Madagali, which he expressed confidence would soon be liberated.
He assured the victims of the insurgency that his government would do everything possible to join hands with the state government to rebuild the state, which has been devastated by Boko Haram attacks.
Source: Thisday
