Army ‘nabs’ one more Boko Haram kingpin

The Nigeria army says it has arrested Boko Haram kingpin John Trankil.

Trankil is the fourth Boko Haram leader to be arrested since the army released a list ‘100 wanted terrorists’ at the end of October.

According to Tukur Gusau, spokesman of the Nigeria army operation lafiya Dole, Trankil was arrested in Maiduguri on Sunday.

“Troops of seventh division garrison Nigerian army in Operation Lafiya Dole, yesterday made a remarkable progress by arresting a Boko Haram terrorist kingpin, Mr John Trankil, at Kasuwar Shanu in Maiduguri metropolis,” he said in a statement on Monday.

“Preliminary investigation revealed  that the suspect said that  nine of them were sneaked into the Maiduguri armed with AK 47 assault rifle each and a Hilux vehicle laden with 20 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs)  meant to be detonated at some selected targets in the city.

“The theatre commander operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Yusha’u Mahmood Abubakar, commended the efforts of the troops and renewed call for the troops and the public to be more vigilant and security-conscious, particularly at all check points, markets, worship centres, motor parks and schools.”

Gusau also disclosed that troops of the 21 brigade of the Nigeria army, while on offensive operations on Boko Haram hideouts, and with the support from the Nigeria air force discovered and destroyed the insurgents’ Improvised Explosive Device (IEDs) and a rocket making factory along Bama-Gonin Kurmi on the outskirts of Bama town, Borno state.

“The items recovered include gas cylinders, welding machine, pipes and poles. 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,” he added.