Gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram on revenge mission, yesterday in Maiduguri, Borno State, shot dead Alhaji Abdullahi Bello, father of the detained sect’s spokesman, Abu Darda (aka Abu Qaqa).
Bello is a retired Deputy Comptroller of Prisons. Also killed was Bello’s friend, whose identity could not be ascertained by Press time. Abu Qaqa had been telling the State Security Service (SSS) all he knew about the Islamist sect since his detention this year.
The Joint Task Force (JTF) also shot and killed the sect’s commander, one of his aides and two armed bandits who robbed Maiduguri residents yesterday. A dependable security source who did not want to be quoted, said Abdullahi Bello, popularly known as DC and his friend, also a retired officer from the Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS), were performing ablution in preparation for the sunset (Magrib) prayers at his (Bello’s) residence located around Baya Quarters when the gunmen stormed the house.
The Joint Task Force (JTF) also shot and killed the sect’s commander, one of his aides and two armed bandits who robbed Maiduguri residents yesterday. A dependable security source who did not want to be quoted, said Abdullahi Bello, popularly known as DC and his friend, also a retired officer from the Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS), were performing ablution in preparation for the sunset (Magrib) prayers at his (Bello’s) residence located around Baya Quarters when the gunmen stormed the house.
The father of Abu Darda, who hails from Kogi State, was said to have returned to his house located some metres away from the demolished enclave of the Boko Haram leader, Mohammed Yusuf, few days earlier, having been out of the state for a long time.
“The gunmen came and shot him and his friend while rounding up their ablution at about 6.30pm,” one of the residents of the area disclosed.
“The gunmen came and shot him and his friend while rounding up their ablution at about 6.30pm,” one of the residents of the area disclosed.
Meanwhile, the JTF said the return of house-to-house search by troops in some flash points of Boko Haram attacks within the metropolis was aimed at fishing out the members and providing adequate security for the people.
JTF’s spokesman, Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa, in a statement, said: “What you are seeing (movement of troops to some areas and search of houses) is a normal routine patrol conducted by the JTF in areas considered as flash points. Targeted and deliberate Cordon and Search was being carried out in selected locations in Abbaganaram, Budum and Jajeri.”
Col Musa advised residents not to panic by the presence of JTF patrol vehicles and troops even as he urged the people to continue their legitimate businesses “unmolested and support the task force in its efforts to maintain law and order.” He also noted that the exercise will continue.
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