>
The Defence Headquarters said Monday that troops of 21 Brigade of Nigerian Army have destroyed a makeshift factory used by Boko Haram insurgents to manufacture explosives and rockets.
The Nigerian Army spokesman, Col. Sani Usman said in a statement that items such as gas cylinders, welding machine, pipes and poles are discovered adding that others include locally made rocket shells, large quantity of assorted chemicals, unprimed IEDs and various technical and laboratory equipment suspected to be stolen from schools’ laboratories around Bama before they were dislodged from the area were recovered from the makeshift factory.
He also announced the arrest of a Boko Haram kingpin, John Trankil.
Trankil who was arrested in Maiduguri made valuable cinfessions which led to the miliatry averting what could have been major terror attacks in Maiduguri.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that 9 terrorists sneaked into the Maiduguri armed with AK 47 assault rifles and a Hilux vehicle laden with 20 Improvised Explosive Devices meant to be detonated at some selected targets in the city,” Abubakar said in a statement.
“The Theatre Commander operation LAFIYA DOLE, Major General Yusha’u Mahmood Abubakar, commended the efforts of the troops and implored troops and the public to be more vigilant and security conscious particularly at all check points, markets, worship centres, motor parks and schools.”