The Federal Government on Thursday raised the alarm that
Boko Haram insurgents were planning to attack political
rallies, worship centres and markets with camels, goats and
donkeys laden with explosives.
The government said intelligence reports indicated that the
insurgents were also planning to use young men disguised
as cobblers to attack Automated Teller Machines,
restaurants and other places.
Coordinator of the National Information Centre on the war
against terrorism, Mr. Mike Omeri, at a press briefing in
Abuja on Thursday, said security agencies and related
organisations had been alerted to take necessary steps to
forestall such attacks.
He said, “Available intelligence reports indicate a plan by
Boko Haram to use young male suicide bombers disguised
as cobblers to hide explosives in their tool boxes and
detonate them in soft target areas such as markets,
restaurants, ATM locations, political rallies, worship
centres, as well as other public places.
“Also, there is indication of a plan by this group to use
livestock such as goats, cows, donkeys and camels laden
with explosives to attack chosen targets. In view of these,
the general public, including all persons within and around
the aforementioned places, is advised to be vigilant and
mindful of suspicious activities within their environment.”
Omeri, who is also Director-General of the National
Orientation Agency, said that several persons released by
Boko Haram in Yobe State were being counselled by
professionals from the military, police, Red Cross and the
National Emergency Management Agency.
He said, “The centre wishes to confirm that the persons
recently released by Boko Haram are presently in the
custody of military authorities. Authoritatively, we can say
that these persons are currently undergoing counselling
after which they will return home to re-join their kith and
kin.
“Most recently it has been discovered that some IDP camps
have been infiltrated by agents of the insurgent group and
has been giving false and inaccurate reports about the
situation in the camps. Unfortunately, these reports have
been adopted as true situation by international
organisations and media.”
He warned genuine livestock farmers to refrain from taking
animals to the city centres as security agents were bound
to stop them.
Answering questions from journalists, Omeri said Nigeria
had the human capacity to tackle the menace of Boko
Haram and that any nation that wished to assist the country
should channel the help to the procurement of weapons.
He also said that officials of the Nigerian Red Cross and top
government functionaries were in the Diffa region of Niger
Republic to supervise the distribution of 540 metric tonnes
of food items, which he said were distributed to 100,000
Nigerians camped in various places.
Omeri added that about 1,000 persons in the camps were
citizens of Niger Republic, who had been with the displaced
Nigerians most of their lives. CLICK HERE TO READ FULL AND TOUCHING NIGERIAN CELEBRITIES BIOGRAPHY AND SCANDALS
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