Troops of the 7 Division Garrison of the Nigerian Army in Operation LAFIYA DOLE, have arrested one John Trankil, said to be one of the leaders of the deadly Boko Haram ravaging the North East in particular. The arrest was made at Kasuwar Shanu in Maiduguri metropolis, capital of Borno state.
The Media Coordinator of Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Colonel Tukur Ismail Gusau, said: “Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect said that nine of them sneaked into Maiduguri, armed with AK 47 assault rifle each and a Hilux vehicle laden with 20 Improvised Explosive Devices meant to be detonated at some selected targets in the city,”
Colonel Gusau said today in a statement issued in Maiduguri said that the Theatre Commander of the operation LAFIYA DOLE, Major General Yusha’u Mahmood Abubakar had commended the efforts of the troops and renewed call for the troops and the public to be more vigilant and security conscious particularly at all check points, markets, worship centres, motor parks and schools.
Boko Haram claims to be fighting to introduce Islamic rule in multi-religious Nigeria,
The arrest of Mr. John Trankil might have debunk the claim by the sect members that they were fighting an Islamic war. Nigerian authorities have consistently said there is nothing Islamic about the group’s terrorist campaign, which has brought monumental suffering to Nigeria and neighbouring countries since 2009.
Meanwhile, Col. Gusau has said that troops of 21 Brigade Nigerian Army have launched offensive operations on Boko Haram terrorists location, with the support from the Nigerian Airforce and have discovered and destroyed the terrorists’ Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and Rocket making factory along Bama-Gonin Kurmi in the outskirts of Bama town, Borno State.
“The items recovered include gas cylinders, welding machine, pipes and poles. Others include locally made rocket shells, large quantity of assorted chemicals, unprimed IEDs and various technical and laboratory equipment suspected to be stolen from schools’ laboratories around Bama before they were dislodged from the area.” [myad]
