JTF kills 2 Boko Haram top commanders & arrests 8 others

Operatives of Joint Task Force, JTF, codenamed Operation Restore Order, yesterday, said it killed two top commanders of the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, in Maiduguri, Borno State capital.

JTF’s Spokesman, Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa, in a statement in Maiduguri, said at 2:20pm, yesterday, a combined team of JTF and Department of State Security, DSS, killed two Boko Haram top commanders on Maiduguri-Kano Road as they were escaping arrest.

Sagir explained that those killed coordinated the sect’s activities in Mubi and Yola in Adamawa and Yobe states, respectively, adding that the two sect members were traveling in a silver-coloured Honda Accord 2000 model car, when they were killed.

JTF Spokesman said the sect members were on their way to Damaturu for a planned special operation to attack civilians and military locations, adding that intelligence reports revealed that they were to carry out attacks in Maiduguri soon.

Items recovered, according to Sagir, were a Honda car, five GSM handsets and weapons. Sagir said eight sect members were also arrested in Nganaram, GRA and Lawanti areas of Maiduguri metropolis in earlier operations.

Those arrested, according to Sagir, were confirmed to have come into Maiduguri from neighbouring states, pointing out that items recovered during the arrests included a silver-coloured Camry car of 1988 model.

He said the suspects stole the car for possible suicide mission and movement of weapons.