The Army yesterday said the suspected
mastermind of the bomb and gun attacks in Jos, Plateau State and Zaria,
Kaduna State, had been arrested.
The announcement came as the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) announced that it lost 37 members to the Zaria blast.
A statement by the Acting Director of
Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said the suspect and two of his
accomplices were arrested at a checkpoint in Dadin Kowa, Gombe State.
“The terrorist kingpin and his colleagues, who disguised in a trailer while trying to evade checks, were fished out by troops.
“Consequently, security cordon was
established in the general areas especially along Bauchi, Gombe and the
Northeastern part of the country by troops of 3 Division and Special
Task Force, as well as the Department of State Services,” the statement
said.
The Army added that the suspects were being processed for further action and would soon face the law.
It urged the public to be more vigilant
and security-conscious and to report any suspicious persons, movements
and facilities to the security agencies.
Suspected Boko Haram terrorists on
Sunday carried out coordinated bomb and gun attacks on worshippers at
the Yan Taya Mosque in Jos, Plateau State where scores were killed and
many injured.
It was followed by another blast at the
Shagalinku Restaurant on Bauchi Road. No fewer than 51 persons were
killed and many injured.
A similar attack had occurred at
Sabongari, Zaria on Tuesday with 26 persons killed and 36 injured when a
young woman with a baby strapped onto her back detonated an explosive
in the midst of a crowd of local government workers. She was
subsequently blown off alongside the innocent baby.
Also yesterday, President Muhammadu
Buhari expressed condolences to Nigerians who lost relatives in the
latest terrorist atrocities in Jos, Kano and Zaria.
A statement by his Senior Special
Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said the President joined
other Nigerians in mourning their loved ones who were brutally murdered
in the suicide bombings and attacks that also caused horrifying
injuries to others.
Buhari also assured Nigerians of the
ability and readiness of the country’s armed forces and security
agencies to contain the frantic resort by the terrorists to attacks on
soft targets such as crowds and places of worship.
The statement said: “The President is
convinced that with recent increases in troops deployment, improvements
in the supply of arms and equipment to the military, as well as the
ongoing effort to mobilize greater international cooperation and
support, the end of Boko Haram and terrorism in Nigeria is in sight.”
He called on Nigerians to remain
vigilant and report any suspicious persons to security agents as his
administration continues to give the highest possible priority to
eradicating Boko Haram and ensuring greater security of lives and
property across the country.
The Chairman of Kaduna State Council of
Chiefs and the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, condoled with the
families of the victims of the Sabon Gari suicide attack.
Ahaji Idris said the Zazzau emirate had never witnessed such a disaster and hoped such incident will not happen again.
He urged Allah to forgive those who lost their lives and wish the injured ones a quick recovery.
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