A suspected bomb manufacturer has been apprehended by the Joint Task Force in Kazaure Local Government in Jigawa State after a gun battle at his residence.
A statement issued on Sunday in Kano by the spokesman of the JTF, Captain Ikedichi Iweha, said one terrorist was apprehended after a gun battle, while three women and three toddlers were rescued unhurt from the incident.
“At the end of operations, five AK 47 rifles, five magazines, and 333 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and various improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were recovered from the residence after an intensive search,” he said.
Iweha also said that preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect is an IED manufacturer and his residence had been used as a staging ground for terrorist activities in Kano.
“You may recollect that the JTF had earlier alerted members of the general public of fleeing terrorists from major theatres of operations in the North-east axis of the country to ‘cooler’ areas due to pressure being mounted on them by the on-going military operations in the north-east.
“Members of the general public are once again enjoined to continue complementing the efforts of the JTF by carrying out thorough checks on the background of persons who wish to rent properties, especially in quiet zones or on the outskirts of major towns,” he said.
He promised that the 3 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Kano would not allow its area of operational responsibility to be used as haven for terrorists.
“The appeals of the JTF will continue to be complemented with the destruction of properties where terrorists reside and the arrest of their owners,” he said, stressing that the efforts of the JTF would not be successful without the cooperation of the residents.
He urged all residents not to relent in the fight against terrorism by reporting any suspicious persons, regardless of gender for immediate action to prevent the loss of lives and properties.
Iweha also called on members of the public to go about their lawful businesses without any fear and to contact the JTF through its telephone numbers in the event of any distress for rapid response.
