JTF destroys Boko Haram hideout in Jos, Plateau

A hideout used by members of the Boko Haram sect was on Saturday destroyed by a combined team of the military and other security agencies in Rikkos area of Jos.

The brownish colour three-bedroom flat, with boys’ quarter, was fortified with high steel gate and fence in the ghetto area of Jos before it was demolished by a bulldozer on Saturday.

The operation commenced on Wednesday night by a combined team of military Joint Task Force (JTF) from Maiduguri, military Special Task Force (STF) in Plateau, the police and the State Security Services (SSS).

A source told newsmen that a man suspected to live in the house was trailed by the JTF men from Borno and were later joined by the STF men in Plateau and other security agencies.

“At about 3.00 a.m. of May 17, a hideout of the Boko Haram terrorists was discovered in Rikkos area of Jos where six women and 11 children of Boko Haram members were kept.

“They have been rescued for investigations and rehabilitation,” Capt. Mdahyelya Markus, spokesman of the STF, told newsmen on Saturday in Jos after the operation at about 7.00 p.m.

According to Markus, items recovered from the three-bedroom bungalow include a laptop computer, external hard disk, eight cell phones, 23 sim cards and 19 prepared improvised explosive detonators.

He said, “Further search on the house at about 6.30am of May 19, revealed one AK-47 rifel, four magazines fully loaded with 7.62mm special ammunition and 150 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.

“Other things recovered are 347 rounds of 9mm ammunition, eight bags of Urea Nitrate fertiliser, two generators, four improvised explosive devices, 395 Sniper ammo and 60m of Cortex wire.

“Four containers of sodium oxide, one potassium chloride, three lead nitrate, two aluminium metal powder, one remote control, chromic cat-cut and white sulphurs were also discovered.”

Markus said that one improvised explosive device detonated during the search on the house but that no body was injured.

Vanguard News