Joint Military Taskforce Kill Four Boko Haram Members in Kano | Boko Haram Denies Threat to Attack Lagos & Abuja

There was panic in Hotoro quarters of Kano yesterday brought about by a gun duel between members of the Joint Military Taskforce and suspected members of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram. The two groups exchanged gun shots for several hours after which four members of the sect were reported dead while many of them were arrested.

The attack forced many residents to stay indoors for hours while gunshots rang in the area.

According to Vanguard News, residents said the sporadic gunshots lasted for a couple of hours

“We have practically given up hope for life due to confusion and intensity of sporadic gunshots and explosions that appeared nearer but we give glory to Allah,” a resident said.

JTF spokesman, Ikediche Iweha, told Vanguard on phone that the operation was successful, adding that “there was no casualty on the side of the security forces.”

Iweha, however, failed to clarify the number of arrests made and items recovered, saying: “What should constitute news to you guys is that we raided a hideout used by extremists this morning, four were killed while many were arrested.”

Normalcy has since returned to the area as shop owners were seen opening for business.

In related news, members of  Boko Haram have revealed that a purported telephone call made to the Africa Independent Television (AIT) by a caller pretending to be a Boko Haram spokesperson was fake.

A source close to the sect told Sahara Reporters that the no one in the sect or any on its leadership initiated a call threatening to attack Lagos and Abuja in 72 hours.

A Nigerian local TV station – African Independent Television – had played a phone call in which an individual claiming to be a representative of Boko Haram threatened to attack Lagos and Abuja in 72 hours.

The caller also requested that President Goodluck Jonathan unconditionally meet with the sect in Yobe state, without security, to discuss the terms of a ceasefire, but our most reliable source said the call was a prank pulled by individuals capitalizing on the hysteria created by Boko Haram’s recent attacks in northern Nigeria.

While both events may come as a relief to many – the denial of the threats on Lagos and Abuja; the killing and arrests of some suspected members of the sect – more still needs to be done to improve the security situation and to fish out perpetrators of these deadly attacks as the tension in the country, especially in northern states, still rages on.

News Source: Vanguard News | Sahara Reporters