B’Haram plans attacks with explosive-laden goats, camels –FG

THE Federal Government on Thursday raised the
alarm that Boko Haram insurgents were planning
to attack political rallies, worship centres and
markets with camels, goats and donkeys laden
with explosives.
The government said intelligence reports indicated
that the insurgents were also planning to use
young men disguised as cobblers to attack
Automated Teller Machines, restaurants and other
places.
Coordinator of the National Information Centre on
the war against terrorism, Mr. Mike Omeri, at a
press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, said security
agencies and related organisations had been
alerted to take necessary steps to forestall such
attacks.
He said, “Available intelligence reports indicate a
plan by Boko Haram to use young male suicide
bombers disguised as cobblers to hide explosives
in their tool boxes and detonate them in soft target
areas such as markets, restaurants, ATM locations,
political rallies, worship centres, as well as other
public places.
“Also, there is indication of a plan by this group to
use livestock such as goats, cows, donkeys and
camels laden with explosives to attack chosen
targets. In view of these, the general public,
including all persons within and around the
aforementioned places, is advised to be vigilant
and mindful of suspicious activities within their
environment.”
Omeri, who is also Director-General of the National
Orientation Agency, said that several persons
released by Boko Haram in Yobe State were being
counselled by professionals from the military,
police, Red Cross and the National Emergency
Management Agency.
He said, “The centre wishes to confirm that the
persons recently released by Boko Haram are
presently in the custody of military authorities.
Authoritatively, we can say that these persons are
currently undergoing counselling after which they
will return home to re-join their kith and kin.
“Most recently it has been discovered that some
IDP camps have been infiltrated by agents of the
insurgent group and has been giving false and
inaccurate reports about the situation in the
camps. Unfortunately, these reports have been
adopted as true situation by international
organisations and media.”
He warned genuine livestock farmers to refrain
from taking animals to the city centres as security
agents were bound to stop them.
Answering questions from journalists, Omeri said
Nigeria had the human capacity to tackle the
menace of Boko Haram and that any nation that
wished to assist the country should channel the
help to the procurement of weapons.
He also said that officials of the Nigerian Red Cross
and top government functionaries were in the Diffa
region of Niger Republic to supervise the
distribution of 540 metric tonnes of food items,
which he said were distributed to 100,000
Nigerians camped in various places.
Omeri added that about 1,000 persons in the
camps were citizens of Niger Republic, who had
been with the displaced Nigerians most of their
lives.