An Otokar Cobra APC on urban counterterrorism counterinsurgency patrols
* Islamist sect Boko Haram has killed
hundreds
* Sect under pressure in military
crackdown
KANO, Nigeria
Aug 11 (Reuters)
Nigerian security forces discovered a bomb-making factory on Saturday in Kano, a northern city that has been plagued by an Islamist insurgency, the secret service said.
Boko Haram, a group styled on the Taliban, is waging an insurgency against President Goodluck Jonathan’s government with the avowed aim of
carving an Islamic state out of Nigeria, a country of more than 160 million split roughly equally between Christians and Muslims.
The group has killed hundreds in gun and bomb attacks in the past two and a half years, mostly in the predominantly Muslim north, although it has struck central Nigeria and the capital Abuja.
The director of the Kano branch of Nigeria’s State Security Services (SSS), Bassey Eteng, said the raid had uncovered 12 improvised bombs and bomb-making chemicals, more than 600 rounds of ammunition, military uniforms and eight AK-47 assault rifles.
“Most of the items recovered were going to be used to mount an attack on Sallah (Muslim holiday), according to our intelligence report,” Eteng said. “There was no casualty of any party during the operations. An investigation to find the terrorists continues.”
A military push in the north appears to have weakened the group. However, Jonathan’s critics say he relies too much on the military to defeat Boko Haram, rather than addressing northerners’
grievances such as poverty and unemployment. As Boko Haram comes under pressure in its northeastern heartland, its attacks have spread further afield. Suspected Islamists opened fire on Christian worshippers in the central state of Kogi on Monday, killing 19.
The military should continue with the crack downs,it is a known fact that boko haram has been asked to come to the dialogue table many a time and has refused,so whatever faith they recieve its theirs,and who knows,when they are tired they may come to the dialogue table.
the level of collateral damages is becoming to high a price to pay ……i pray for nigeria.
Some of the seized weapons (REUTERS)
The North has held power for close to 36 yrs out of 52 yrs of Nigeria’s existence and it’s only now they are realising that poverty ravages their land.
They should “puuuleeeese” give us a break.