Yoruba Boko Haram leader, wife, kids arrested

A suspected high ranking operative of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, his wife and five children were yesterday arrested by the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) in Kano.

Also seized during an early morning raid on his Farawa, Hotoro Quarters residence was a large quantity of explosive devices, guns and ammunition.

The suspect, Suleiman Mohammed, has been moved to Abuja for interrogation.

The Kano State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, who confirmed the arrest was silent on the identity of the man and details of the seized items.

However, a source said the suspect is a Yoruba and the first individual from the South West to be linked with the sect.

The source said the seized items included 10 crates of improvised explosive devices (IEDs),1000 rounds of ammunition and three pistols.

Idris, who said the raid followed a tip-off, also showed reporters seven trucks of empty soft-drink cans mopped by his men as part of pre-emptive security measures.

Empty cans of drinks are used by the sect in manufacturing bombs.

He asked the public to “help us by destroying cans of these soft drinks after taking the content.”

He said a large quantity of empty cans was discovered at an uncompleted building on Tukur Road in the metropolis, “and intelligence reports reveal that those empty cans of soft drinks were kept there for nefarious purposes.

“Bomb experts will tell you how these enemies of the state can use these empty cans to make explosives if they are not destroyed after use.

“We have engaged in aggressive campaign to the general public, hotels and restaurants to ensure that these empty cans are destroyed and disposed off immediately after use, so as to curtail the activities of these people.”

The Commissioner of Police also hinted that security agencies were monitoring the sale and distribution of assorted chemicals and fertilizers.

“What we are doing is to ensure that those who buy these products are using them legitimately. Where we find that they are not, we arrest them and confiscate the products,” he said.

Idris also confirmed to reporters the killing of a revenue officer who was shot by two unknown gun men on a motorbike at Gadon Kaya, BUK Road yesterday morning while coming out of his house.

Police are on the trail of the assailants, the Commissioner added.
Source http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news/46303-yoruba-boko-haram-leader-wife-kids-arrested.html