Boko Haram attacks Kogi prison
In a 30-minute operation, Boko Haram have raided the Koton-Karfi Prison in Kogi State, killing a security man and set members free.
The detained top shot of the sect, Abul Qaqa, is an Igala man from Kogi State.
It was the first time the dreaded Islamist sect would attack the North West state, even as the group and the Joint Task Force (JTF) were engaged in an hour gun battle in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Also, the State Security Service (SSS) declared an ex-soldier wanted in connection with the Christmas Day bombing at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State.
But in Kogi last night, the sect members stormed the prison at about 7p.m without any signal of the impending attack.
On arrival, the group opened fire on one of the securitymen at the gate and killed him on the spot. The main gate of the prison was bombed by the sect’s members, numbering over 20.
Immediately they entered the premises, they shot sporadically to chase other prison officers away as they freed some of their suspected members.
Other prisoners took advantage of the invasion and escaped immediately the attack was over.
The residents scampered for safety during the shooting. Meanwhile, residents of Maiduguri were forced to return home in time even before the curfew time as soldiers and Boko Haram members engaged in a fierce gun battle for about an hour.
The Boko Haram men had ambushed some soldiers deployed in Gwange, the sect’s flash-point, leading to the death of one of the soldiers.
Angered by the incessant killings of its men, the JTF hurriedly dispatched about five patrol vehicles and armoured tank to the area.
The popular Lagos Street was immediately condoned off as soldiers took over the entire road stretching to about two kilometres and leading to major federal institutions; the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) and its teaching hospital (UMTH). A resident of Gwange told Daily Sun on phone that the soldiers chased the Boko Haram men into an area and started shooting, claiming many people died in the gun battle.
There was no official account of the incident from the JTF at Press time as the Field Operation Officer, Col. Victor Ebhaleme, did not respond to calls to his phone while that of the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Lt-Col. Hassan Mohammed, was switched off. But yesterday, the SSS declared an ex-soldier, Habibu Bama, wanted over the Madalla bombing, which killed about 45 parishioners. Bama, according to a statement signed by the Deputy Director, Public Relations of the SSS, Marilyn Ogar, is wanted in connection with ‘crime against the state’.
The terse statement, which did not give further details, said that the wanted ex-soldier, was a Kanuri. He hailed from Borno State.
“He is hereby declared wanted by the Federal Government in connection with crimes against the state.
“Members of the public with any information that could lead to his arrest are hereby implored to immediately contact the nearest police station, military formations or other security agencies,” the statement read in parts.
The SSS said that Bama was known by other names such as ‘Habib Bama’, ‘Shuaibu Bama’, and ‘Habib Mamman.’
Daily Sun findings, however, revealed that Bama’s offence was not unconnected with Boko Haram insurgence, especially the Christmas Day bombing at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State. It was gathered that arrested principal members of the sect, who were in SSS’s custody have been co-operating and giving useful hints about their operations and key members of the group. Yesterday’s declaration by the SSS came barely six days after the alleged mastermind of Madalla bombing, Kabiru Sokoto, was rearrested by the security service.
Both Sokoto and spokesman of the sect, Abul Qaqa, have been telling the SSS all they know about the deadly attacks by the sect, which had led to several loss of lives and property worth billions of Naira.
In a 30-minute operation, Boko Haram have raided the Koton-Karfi Prison in Kogi State, killing a security man and set members free.
The detained top shot of the sect, Abul Qaqa, is an Igala man from Kogi State.
It was the first time the dreaded Islamist sect would attack the North West state, even as the group and the Joint Task Force (JTF) were engaged in an hour gun battle in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Also, the State Security Service (SSS) declared an ex-soldier wanted in connection with the Christmas Day bombing at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State.
But in Kogi last night, the sect members stormed the prison at about 7p.m without any signal of the impending attack.
On arrival, the group opened fire on one of the securitymen at the gate and killed him on the spot. The main gate of the prison was bombed by the sect’s members, numbering over 20.
Immediately they entered the premises, they shot sporadically to chase other prison officers away as they freed some of their suspected members.
Other prisoners took advantage of the invasion and escaped immediately the attack was over.
The residents scampered for safety during the shooting. Meanwhile, residents of Maiduguri were forced to return home in time even before the curfew time as soldiers and Boko Haram members engaged in a fierce gun battle for about an hour.
The Boko Haram men had ambushed some soldiers deployed in Gwange, the sect’s flash-point, leading to the death of one of the soldiers.
Angered by the incessant killings of its men, the JTF hurriedly dispatched about five patrol vehicles and armoured tank to the area.
The popular Lagos Street was immediately condoned off as soldiers took over the entire road stretching to about two kilometres and leading to major federal institutions; the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) and its teaching hospital (UMTH). A resident of Gwange told Daily Sun on phone that the soldiers chased the Boko Haram men into an area and started shooting, claiming many people died in the gun battle.
There was no official account of the incident from the JTF at Press time as the Field Operation Officer, Col. Victor Ebhaleme, did not respond to calls to his phone while that of the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Lt-Col. Hassan Mohammed, was switched off. But yesterday, the SSS declared an ex-soldier, Habibu Bama, wanted over the Madalla bombing, which killed about 45 parishioners. Bama, according to a statement signed by the Deputy Director, Public Relations of the SSS, Marilyn Ogar, is wanted in connection with ‘crime against the state’.
The terse statement, which did not give further details, said that the wanted ex-soldier, was a Kanuri. He hailed from Borno State.
“He is hereby declared wanted by the Federal Government in connection with crimes against the state.
“Members of the public with any information that could lead to his arrest are hereby implored to immediately contact the nearest police station, military formations or other security agencies,” the statement read in parts.
The SSS said that Bama was known by other names such as ‘Habib Bama’, ‘Shuaibu Bama’, and ‘Habib Mamman.’
Daily Sun findings, however, revealed that Bama’s offence was not unconnected with Boko Haram insurgence, especially the Christmas Day bombing at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State. It was gathered that arrested principal members of the sect, who were in SSS’s custody have been co-operating and giving useful hints about their operations and key members of the group. Yesterday’s declaration by the SSS came barely six days after the alleged mastermind of Madalla bombing, Kabiru Sokoto, was rearrested by the security service.
Both Sokoto and spokesman of the sect, Abul Qaqa, have been telling the SSS all they know about the deadly attacks by the sect, which had led to several loss of lives and property worth billions of Naira.
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