Boko Haram: JTF, police in house-to-house search

Date: 27-03-2013 1:17 pm (11 years ago) | Author: Direct
- at 27-03-2013 01:17 PM (11 years ago)
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SOME suspected gunmen were yesterday arrested in Kano State by a combined team of the Joint Task Force (JTF) and the police.
The team launched a house-to-house search for explosives and weapons, following recent killings and rampant gun attacks in Yankaba and Dakata areas of the city by suspected Boko Haram sect members.
Their efforts paid off with the arrest of suspects in the wee-hour raid on Hotoro, Mariri and Zango communities – all identified black spots.
According to an eyewitness account, several gun shots were heard in the neighborhood as early as 5am.
One person was reportedly killed in the crossfire between security operatives and the suspects.
Kano Police Command spokesman Magaji Majiya, who confirmed the incident, identified the lone victim as a tricycle operator.
He said the driver was shot by gunmen on the rail track crossing in Dakata/Yankaba. Majiya informed that the victim’s tricycle was taken away.
The spokesman also confirmed that security operatives have spread their dragnets in the area in search of fleeing gunmen.
It was learnt that the JTF began the house-to-house search in suspected flash points like Hotoro, Mariri, Hausawa. The areas are believed to be harbouring suspected Boko Haram militants.
Dakata/Kawaji area has been under Islamic extremists’ siege, a development that has claimed several lives and ruined businesses.
About 900 National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) members out of the 2413 deployed to Kano State for orientation have been redeployed to other parts of the country. Their redeployment followed the March 18 bomb blast that rocked the New Road Motor Park, in Sabongari Area of the city, which claimed more than 20 lives.
But Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso assured the corps members of adequate security, urging them to respect the norms and culture of their hosts.
Speaking with reporters shortly after the passing out parade of “Batch A, at Karaye Camp, the state coordinator, Alhaji Bashir Yakasai, said prior to the explosion, very few corps members indicated interests to be redeployed after the orientation programme.
However, soon after the bomb blast, many corps members irequested to be redeployed and their request was granted, he said.
Yakassai said: “Despite the Director General’s intervention, the corps members insisted on their redeployment. There was a directive that corps members should be redeployed to four key areas of agriculture, rural infrastructure, education and health.”
He urged corps members to utilise the skills acquired during their orientation, so as to achieve self reliance.

Posted: at 27-03-2013 01:17 PM (11 years ago) | Hero