Five Boko Haram, two soldiers killed in shootout

Five members of the Boko Haram and two soldiers were killed in an operation conducted by the Joint Security Task Force in Hotoro Dan Marke and Brigade general areas of Kano State yesterday.

A statement signed by the spokesman of the Joint SecurityTask Force (JTF), Captain Ikediche Iweha, said the operation began at exactly 3.00 am. Some of the items recovered from the insurgents in their two locations included two AK 47 rifles, 458 rounds of 7.62 special and six AK 47 rifle magazines.

Iweha explained that the operation was as a result of series of cordon and search operations being carried out by the JTF and the men of the DSS in Kano. The statement further disclosed that terrorists were in the process of finalizing plans to carry out simultaneous suicide attacks in Abuja and Kano respectively.

It reads, “The proactive reactions of the JTF have denied the terrorists freedom of action in Kano and from using the state as a spring board to launch attacks on other parts of the country”.

The JTF lamented the ease with which the insurgents secure accommodation in  Panshekara, Ja’en, Mariri, Farawa, Hotoro, Sherada, Brigade and other outskirt areas of Kano state, despite repeated appeals to property owners to desist from renting their property to persons of questionable identity.

“The JTF in Kano would not allow the state to be used as haven for terrorists. These appeals having fallen on deaf ears, the JTF would not only continue to destroy any such property which is found to accommodate terrorists but will also arrest the owners of such properties, treating them as accomplices even if they do not reside in the said property.”

“The JTF therefore calls on all residents of Kano not to relent in the fight against terrorist elements who are seeking refuge in the state by reporting any suspicious persons regardless of gender for immediate action to prevent the loss of lives and properties” said the statement.

JTF urged the members of the public to go about their lawful businesses without any fear and to contact the task force through its telephone numbers in the event of any distress, adding that JTF has increased its patrols to cope with the pressure of the Ember period and fleeing terrorists.