Boko Haram followers are planning to launch another major attack in Kano during the Easter holiday, similar to their deadly strike in January, the Joint Task Force said yesterday.
The force asked people to stay indoors during the period unless if they had to go out to avoid being caught up in the likely confrontation between security agencies and sect members.
Spokesman for the JTF in Kano, Lt. Ikedichi Iweha, told journalists yesterday at the Army’s 3 Brigade headquarters that intelligence reports showed the sect was planning to launch a large-scale attack in the next days.
He said Honda and Golf cars are the likely vehicles to be used in the attacks, adding that gunmen on Tuesday night snatched a Honda car, possibly for suicide bombing, but it was later recovered by security men.
Boko Haram’s deadliest strike yet happened in Kano on January 20, when at least 186 people were killed, according to the official figures. On that day, eight security formations were attacked by suicide bombers and gunmen. Since then Kano has witnessed sporadic shootings targeting security men and formations.
“Residents should be security conscious and be mindful of their movements because we have intelligence report that the terrorists are planning to take advantage of the oncoming Easter holiday to launch a large scale attack on Kano city just like they had done earlier this year,” Iweha said yesterday.
He said people should stay at home unless they have serious activities to attend to outside.
“We are trying very hard to protect the lives of Kano people from being terminated by terrorists.
The JTF always tries to be professional in conducting its duties. Therefore people should accept our advice and stay indoors during the holiday,” Iweha added.
In a statement later emailed to Daily Trust in Kano, Iweha alerted members of the public to activities of “criminal terrorists” looking for vehicles to use for suicide attacks.
“It may interest you to know that snatching of the vehicle is not an end in itself but a means to an end.
It is also in line with available intelligence to the fact that criminal terrorist elements are going about desperately looking for specific vehicles to be used for suicide missions in Kano metropolis and its environs,” he said.
“Members of the public are continuously called upon to continue to remain vigilant, report suspicious cars especially Honda and Golf brands and movements of persons to the police and other security agencies.
“This would go a long way to frustrate the plans of the extremist elements bent on sabotaging the economy of the state as well as the peace of the community.”
He gave an account of how the car was snatched on Tuesday: “Yesterday, 3 April 2012 at about 2130hrs, a JTF checkpoint was alerted by an afflicted member of the public whose car was snatched at gun point at his residence by terrorist elements as he entered his house.
“The car was to be used possibly in the next few days for suicide bombing mission.
Based on the tip off, the JTF alerted all its units within the area to look out for a Honda accord car 2008 model with the colour and description accurately given.
“The troops at all JTF check points responded with all alertness and within twenty minutes, one of our checkpoints spotted the vehicle in question.
“The vehicle was flagged down for checking, but the terrorist elements on sighting men of the JTF opened fire at the check point in their desperate bid to get away.
“Troops at the checkpoint responded in self-defence and to frustrate the criminal terrorist elements from getting away. During the brief but intense encounter, three of the terrorist elements were gunned down.
“An immediate search conducted on the vehicle revealed that the occupants had 2 AK 47 Riffles, 1 pistol, 1 locally manufactured pistol, 47 rounds of 7.62mm special and 6 rounds of 9mm.”
The JTF spokesman, who displayed the stolen car, the corpses of the suspects and the weapons recovered, said that Boko Haram followers now engage in kidnapping and carjacking because they have run out of money.
Our correspondent reports that security measures were being stepped up in Kano yesterday, ahead of the Easter holidays, which start tomorrow.
In addition to the checkpoints around the city, armour tanks were noticed being deployed yesterday around the prisons area.
