Nigeria - JTF, STF Raid Boko Haram Hideout in Jos

The Joint Task Force from Borno State, in collaboration with the Special Task Force keeping peace on the Plateau, Saturday raided a haven of a suspected member of the Boko Haram in the Rikkos area of Jos, Plateau State capital, arresting six women and 11 children. But the terrorist, whose name was not disclosed, escaped before the raid.


The twin bungalows in the compound were later demolished at about 3:30 pm Saturday and the area placed under surveillance. Reporters gathered that the JTF had received a security report from Maiduguri and had contacted the STF in Jos, and in joint operation had placed the entire Rikkos area of Jos on surveillance since Thursday, before the house was eventually located.

Spokesman of the STF, Mdahyelya Markus, who addressed journalists after the demolition, said the hideout was discovered on May 17, adding that items recovered include laptop, external hard disc, 8 cell phones, 23 sim cards, and 19 improvised explosive detonators.


Markus said, “Further search on the house revealed one AK47, four magazines (fully loaded with 7.62mm (special) and 150 rounds of 7.62mm (special), 347 rounds of 9mm, 8 bags of urea nitrate fertilizer, 2 generators, 4 improvised explosive devices,395 sniper ammo, 60m of Cortex (Blue Wire), 4 containers of sodium oxide, 1 potassium chloride, 3 lead nitrate, 2 aluminium metal powder, 1 remote control, chromic cat-cut and white sulphurs”.


He added that during the search one IED was detonated but no one was injured.


One of the women arrested, Hawal Mohammed, said in an interview with newsmen that she and her husband were brought to Jos in April by the suspected terrorist who escaped. She said one day the terrorist travelled with her husband but returned after two days without him, and when she asked after her husband, she was told that he had an accident and died.