Police arrest Boko Haram’s ‘Chief Butcher’

The Nigeria Police Force on Tuesday announced the capture of Mohammed Zakari, the self-styled “chief butcher” of Boko Haram believed to have spearheaded the slaughter of at least seven people at the Balmo Forest Camp in Bauchi state.

Announcing the breakthrough, public relations officer of the police, Frank Mba, said Zakari’s arrest happened courtesy of the massive onslaught by security forces on the activities of Boko Haram at the Balmo Forest.

“Police detectives attached to Bauchi state police command on Saturday, July 12, 2014, about 2pm arrested one Mohammed Zakari, a male of 30 years old and senior member of the Boko Haram terrorists’ organisation, along Darazo-Basrika Road while fleeing from the intensive counter insurgency operations going on around the Balmo Forest,” Mba said.

“The suspect, who hails from Kaigamari Village, Daptchari in Darazo Local Government Area, Bauchi State is the self-styled ‘chief butcher’ of the insurgent group at the Balmo Forest Camp and is linked with the recent slaughter of seven people, including women and children.”

He expressed hopes that the findings and disclosures from the suspect would assist the law enforcement agencies in tracking down some other members of the terror cell.

He said Zakari — who was tutored in the art of insurgency at Gombe Forest under the leadership of fleeing insurgent, Abba Taura, and moved to Balmo Forest only three months ago — was discovered to have actively participated in the April attack against Customs officers at Kari Town, along Maiduguri Road, Bauchi State.

The police urged citizens of the affected areas to be on guard for any suspicious or strange character fleeing Balmo Forest.

It also called for the understanding and support of the public for the efforts of the police and other security forces in tackling insurgency, terrorism and other related crimes headlong.

“Although the war on terrorism is unrelenting, it is certainly not insurmountable and must be won with the cooperation of all,” Mba said.