Military Warns Nigerians To Be Vigilant

Nigerian army officials have issued a security alert warning of plans by the terror group Boko Haram to carry out suicide bombings in several parts of the country.

They said the group planned to divert attention from the centre of the operations in the northeast by killing innocent civilians at such soft targets as markets, recreation grounds, gardens and important national memorials.

Nigerian soldiers, in partnership with forces from neighbouring countries under the umbrella of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF), have destroyed most of Boko Haram’s operational bases, while many terrorists have been killed.
In their attempt to stay relevant and attract attention, the group has once again returned to the use of suicide bombers in its dreadful campaign against Nigeria as observed in places like Kano, Jos and Yobe.
The security warning asks Nigerians to be watchful and on the look-out for possible suicide bombers already brainwashed and probably drugged by the insurgents.
Top intelligence sources repeated that Boko Haram fighters, in their desperation to escape the army attacks on their camps and to react to such offensives, may have resorted to suicide bombings, which was their hit-and-run tactic used mostly between 2012 and 2013.
This time around the insurgents have been using children and teenagers, particularly females, as bombers on soft targets in some northern states.
According to a source, “their major mission is to attack soft targets like motor parks, schools, worship centres, markets among others for maximum casualty among the citizens.”
It was also reported that some of the explosives used for suicide bombings were dynamite materials taken from quarries within and outside the country.
Meanwhile, the cooperation against the insurgency forged by countries around the Lake Chad Basin has so far weakened the terrorists that it is now difficult for them to strike in Nigeria and neighbouring countries who have closed their borders against the insurgents, hence the resort to soft targets.
Several towns and local governments in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, containing the training services and logistic dumps of the terrorists have been retaken by Nigerians soldiers.

The Directorate of State Services, in a comment issued on the development said: “It has become evident that following the successful, sustained air raids and intense combat operations by the military on insurgents’ positions in the North-East which had effectively degraded the capacity of the terrorists, its members are now in disarray and have resorted to taking out their anger on hapless civilians and soft targets.
“This development accounts for the recent spate of attacks recorded in Yobe, Kano, Borno and Plateau States with intent of distracting security forces. “Accordingly, this Service wishes to advice members of the public to be vigilant especially in crowded environment and when travelling. Commuters should desist from boarding unmarked vehicles along the road and only use designated motor parks.
“We also reiterate our call on motor park managers to ensure proper screening of vehicles, persons and luggage entering their premises. They should also look out for new faces who show up as drivers and conductors.”
It should be noted that President Goodluck Jonathan has visited the terrorists recovered from Boko Haram and promoted soldiers for their success.
Boko Haram militants on Friday, February 27, carried out a reprisal attack, as they raided villages in northeast Nigeria on the border with Cameroon, with many people reported killed.