‘DSS foils plot to attack Kano, Sokoto, during Sallah, arrests terrorists’

Department of State Security (DSS) on Friday revealed how it foiled plots by suspected terrorists to attack Kano, Sokoto, Kaduna and Maiduguri during the Sallah celebration.

DSS said two suspects, Yusuf Adamu and Abdumuminu Haladu, who were among plotters of the attacks were arrested by the domestic intelligence agency in the early hours of Friday in Sokoto, adding that the duo and others now at large were to command the operation in Kano.

Sallah celebration, an Islamic festival takes place Monday and Tuesday next week. The two days have already been announced as public holidays by the Federal Government.

Disclosing the plot on Friday in a statement signed by Tony Opuiyo, a DSS operative, the agency said that in the past few weeks the DSS has uncovered a sinister plot by terrorist elements to stage series of coordinated attacks using explosives on different cities across the country.

“However, the Service had earlier arrested the facilitator of the Kano attack, an explosive expert by name Bashir Mohammed at Unguwar Barnawa, Shekar Madaki, Kumbatso LGA, Kano State on June 20.

“Their plan, together with others now at large, was to assemble the explosives and use them on select targets during the Eid-el-Fitr celebrations.

“Their aim was to hit on soft targets such as markets, public parks, public processions, recreation centres, as well as worship centres especially the Eid Praying Grounds and other densely populated areas during the forthcoming Eid-el-Fitr Sallah celebration. The latest plan by the terrorists was to unleash mayhem on Kano, Sokoto, Kaduna and Maiduguri,” the statement read in part.

According to the security operative, “Eight (8) AK-47 rifles, Twenty (20) fully loaded AK-A7 magazines, Twenty-seven (27) hand grenades, Seven hundred and ninety-three (793) rounds of live ammunition,” were recovered during the search and arrest of Mohammed in Kumbotso, at his residence in Kano.

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Also recovered at his residence according to the DSS were one gas cylinder, three laptops, one mobile phone, a motorcycle, a car, and a printer.

The DSS has therefore assured Nigerians that the planned terrorist attacks in the states have been foiled and that there was nothing to worry about during the celebration in those states.

Meanwhile, the DSS also alleged that it has uncovered plots by the terrorists to infiltrate the ranks of Ibraheem El-Zakzaky-led Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN).

IMN has continued to demand for the release of their leader, El-Zakzaky, who has remained in Federal Government custody without trial since December 2015.

 

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