Boko Haram kingpin arrested in Maiduguri giving information on 8 others at large - Army

Boko Haram kingpin arrested in Maiduguri giving information on 8 others at large  - Army

By Blogger

A highly trained Boko Haram leader with an uncommon name, John Trankil, said in confession to army investigation team that himself and 8 other killers were sneaked into Maiduguri, Borno state for a major attack using bombs and guns, officials said.

John who was arrested on Monday at a crowded commercial area known as Kasuwan Shanu, said his other colleagues who were skilled in extreme lethal warfare may still be at large in Maiduguri.

Deputy Spokesman of the Nigeria Army at the 7 Division Maiduguri, Colonel Tukur Gusau, said the arrested suspect was one of the 100 terrorists declared wanted.

Colonel Gusau said the nabbed top Boko Haram bomber is currently giving useful information to army at the headquarters of Operation Lafiya Dole, which may lead to arrest of the eight dangerous terrorists and others. 

Gusau's statement which also revealed how soldiers  the discovered and destroyed IED making factory in Bama axis reads thus;

"Troops of 7 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.

"Preliminary investigation revealed  that the suspect said that  9 of them were sneaked into the Maiduguri armed with AK 47 assault rifle each and a Hilux vehicle laden with 20 Improvised Explosive Devices 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.

"In a related development,  troops of 21 Brigade Nigerian Army, while on offensive operations on Boko Haram terrorists location, with the support from the Nigerian Airforce discovered and destroyed the terrorists' Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and Rocket making factory along Bama-Gonin Kurmi within the outskirts of Bama town, Borno State.

"The items recovered includes 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".

The arrest of the wanted terrorist who still uses his first name 'John' may have suggested, if not confirmed the fact that the whole idea about Boko Haram was never religious as claimed by the leaders of the insurgent group that have killed thousands in churches and mosques in the last four years.