How Boko Haram declared no fly zone in Borno •Troops foil terrorists’ attempt to regroup

DETAILS have emerged as to how the militant Islamic sect, Boko Haram, ran a sort of government over ten  local governments in Borno State before President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency on May 14.
Reports available to the Nigerian Tribune confirmed that the Islamic sect took over the administration of the local governments, collecting taxes and running health centres alongside the training camps for the insurgents.
The group also declared a ‘no fly zone’ over Borno area during their reign of terror.
Informed security sources revealed that the sect acquired anti-aircraft missiles, in order to bring down any plane seen flying around the ‘No Fly Zone.’
The source further revealed that following intelligence report by security agencies, airline operators were advised to avoid flying over certain areas in Borno State.
It was gathered that a two-pronged approach was hatched by the sect to devastate and throw the whole nation into confusion.
The intelligence report also indicated the plans by the sect to hijack any private jet or commercial airline to hit important sites in Abuja so as to replicate the September 11, 2001 attack on the United States of America, which saw hijackers crashing planes into the World Trade Centre in New York.
The source revealed that these reports were made available to President Jonathan, who immediately summoned the National Security Council meeting to discuss how to avoid these calamities.
The security source disclosed that it was at the meeting that the issues were raised on how to tackle the menace and it was then the service chiefs came up the idea of state of emergency to enable them deal with the insurgency once and for all.
It was when the decisions were agreed upon that the President summoned the three governors of the affected states and assured them that the political structures would not be dismantled during the emergency period.
The source said that the Boko Haram as of April was fully in control of three local governments in Borno State and collecting taxes from residents of the area which they used in funding their operations.
The insurgents also hoisted their flags in those local governments, destroying all Nigerian flags.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that the terrorists had already drawn up their plans of operation on how to launch attacks few weeks ahead of the emergency declaration.
Nigerian Tribune further gathered that some of the secret documents were recovered by the Joint Task Force, mentioning names of their sponsors and how to carry out jihad.
The source added that the State of Emergency was the only saving grace for the country, as any further delay would have been devastating.
It was also gathered that the military hierarchy advised the government that GSM operators should be advised to shutdown their networks so as to prevent the insurgents from communicating.

Troops foil terrorists regrouping
Troops of the Special Forces have intercepted messages sent to fleeing insurgents urging them not to give up, but fight to the end.
The attempt by some of them to heed the call was foiled during the weekend as they were trailed to some settlements and towns towards the border where they planned to regroup.
Defence spokesman, Brigadier General Chris Olukolade, said that the troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force carried out an operation which resulted in the capture and destruction of the insurgents’ assembly points sited on the outskirts of Kaneram Dan Katsina, Tumbu Dabino and Mallam Fatori area north of Baga.
According to him, the towns and settlements have now been secured while cordon and search operation is also ongoing in the area after the insurgents have been dislodged.
He said that a total of 25 insurgents were rounded up while three died including a high profile terrorist identified as Abba, who had been on the list of most wanted persons.
General Olukolade disclosed that the incident happened during an encounter with troops of the task force as the insurgents were finalising moves to carry out an extensive terrorist operation around Maiduguri.
He also added that the captured ones were all apprehended with their weapons which include rifles, pistols, double barrel guns and various calibres of ammunition during a raid operation of the JTF in Kumshe and Bulunkutu area.
He said the terrorists succeeded in killing a security operative of the Task Force but, they were all apprehended before their main planned infiltration with more arms to cause mayhem in the city.
Also, in Sambisa forest, troops combing the area continue to make more discoveries as a man who had been held hostage in the forest since last year escaped, bound in handcuffs as his captors fled during the troops’ attack on the biggest camp in the forest.
The freed hostage is being treated by the Task Force while the troops are dominating the forest as they find a number of fresh graves.
The Defence spokesman added that more arms and ammunition, burnt vehicles and other equipment were discovered and that  there would be more updates as the operation continues.
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