Military Captures another Suspected Mastermind of Madalla Bombings
Bauchi govt donates 25 security vehicle, army test-fires 36 battle tanks FG to relocate 60,000 Nigerian refugees in Cameroun
Senator Iroegbu Yemi Akinsuyi
The Nigerian military has recorded another milestone in the ongoing counter-terrorism operations against Boko Haram terrorists as one of the suspected masterminds of the December 2011, Madalla Christmas bombings was captured.
The suspect, known as Victor Moses, was paraded yesterday before the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, alongside four other accomplices at the 33 Artillery Brigade, Bauchi State.
Parading the suspect and his accomplices, the Brigade Commander, Brig-Gen. Abraham Dusu, said Moses, was apprehended at Alkaleri in Bauchi while conducting surveillance for the Boko Haram terrorists inside a mosque in the town.
According to Dusu, the chief suspect raised suspicion when he claimed that he wanted to convert to Islam but being new to the community, the security agencies and military intelligence, who on interrogation got his confession to being one of the masterminds of the 2011 Christmas Day Bombing in Madalla, Niger State.
He disclosed that upon further interrogation, the others suspects were apprehended. They are Abubakar Shettima Bama, Umar Sadiq Madaki, and Salisu Mohammed Bello.
The Commander said: “Our troops in Alkeleri were alerted about somebody trying to convert to Islam but they noticed he wasn’t from the area and the community people informed us. He was subsequently arrested, and revealed his name as Victor Moses, who also said he was among those who made the Madala bombing successful.
“According to him, his major work is surveillance for the Boko Haram terrorists but he lives with Abubakar Shettima Bama.
“Victor Moses, the main suspect, was arrested in Alkaleri, where he conducts surveillance for the Boko Haram sect. He was accommodated by Bama who lives in Jos, along with other two accomplices,” Dusu added.
In another development, the Governor of Bauchi State, Mohammed Abubakar, has donated 25 Hilux patrol vehicles to the Nigerian Army, Police and Department of State Security Service (DSS) in order to help enforce and maintain security in the state.
Abubakar who made the formal presentation of the patrol vehicles at the state secretariat in Bauchi noted that the primary function of government is to enforce security.
According to him, “Criminal activities all over the world are becoming more sophisticated so we have to redouble our efforts to be on top.
“As a responsible government, we have promised to provide security to our citizens. We have serious security challenges like the Boko Haram terrorism, cattle rustling and banditry. “Today, Bauchi is one of the safest states in the North-east region and the country at large. We urge the citizenry to participate and support us by providing information to security agents as well as forming vigilante groups.”
The governor said the 25 vehicles were worth over N250 million with 10 presented to the army, nine to the police, five to the DSS and one to the Zone 12 Police Command in the state capital.
Responding, Buratai lauded the state government’s gesture which he said was an indication that the governor is serious with security matters in the state and the zone.
In a related development, the 33 Artillery Brigade, 3rd Division of the Nigerian army has test-fired about six out of 36 battle tanks refurnished and inducted into their inventory for the ongoing operation against Boko Haram in the region.
Meanwhile, Nigerian refugees living in Cameroun have been assured of the federal government’s commitment to relocate them back to their communities in Nigeria, following the liberation of communities hitherto besieged by terrorist and the gradual return of civil authorities.
This assurance was given by the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, when he visited over 60,000 Nigerian refugees in the Minawao camp, Maruoa, in the northern region of Cameroun as parts of his three-day official visit to the country.
Dambazau, in a rstatement signed by his media aide, Osaigbovo Ehisienmen, used the occasion of the visit to donate food and other essential items to the displaced Nigerians in Cameroun on behalf of the Nigerian government.
He was accompanied on the trip by the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr. Solomon Arase,the Comptroller General of Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Mr. Martins Abeshi; Director General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Solicitor General of the Federation, Representative of National Refugee Commission and other government officials.
In a related development, the minister jointly signed a communiqué at the end of a bilateral meeting with officials of Cameroun Interior Ministry on issues relating to exchange of information on the organisation and duties of Interior Ministry of both countries.