How We Foiled Terrorist Plot To Disrupt Sallah Festivities

Mai-Tangaran

The Department of State Service (DSS) says that it uncovered and foiled sinister plans by Islamic State of West Africa (ISWA) terrorists, to cause mayhem and destruction that would have disrupted the just concluded Eid-Kabir Sallah festivities.

The DSS in a statement signed by its spokesman, Tony Opuiyo, on Saturday said the plan was to conduct gun attacks and suicide bombing on selected targets in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, Niger, Bauchi, Yobe and Borno States.

According to the statement, the mastermind of the operation was one Husseini Mai-Tangaran, a well-known senior ISWA commander who has been on the radar of the Nigeria Army since 2012, when he spearheaded the armed attacks on the office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone I, on 20th January, 2012, as well as other public places in Kano.

It was also noted that Mai-Tangaran was responsible for the deadly explosive attacks against worshippers at the Kano Central Mosque as well as an attack on a military formation in Yobe State in 2015, which claimed hundreds of lives.

Giving details of the foiled attacks the DSS said: “Under the banner of the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA) which he belongs, Mai-Tangaran, an IED expert had been prepping and priming others for the perpetration of suicide bombing attacks carried out by the group in the past within the North-East region.

“He was arrested in Kano, on 31st August, 2017, and further exploitation, led to the arrest of one Abdulkadir Umar Mohammed by the Service on September 2, 2017, at Kantin Kwari Market in Fagge LGA, Kano.”

The statement noted that Mohammed was a fighter of the sect who left the conclave of the group in the Sambisa forest, to join ranks with Ismaila towards carrying out the attacks being planned by the group.

“Also, another accomplice in the plot, one Muhammad Ali was arrested on 3rd September 2017, at Sheka area in Kumbotso LGA of the State. Prior to his arrest, ALI was the financial courier of the group in Kano. He was one of the conduits through which funds and other material logistics were channeled to the group from foreign extremist elements/sponsors.

“Like Abdulkadir Umar Mohammed, Ali was involved in the plot to perpetrate the planned attacks in Kano and other states in the north during the just concluded Eid-Kabir celebration.”

In a related tactical operation on September 3, 2017, the Service said it apprehended the duo of one Yahaya Mohammed Abatcha and Yusuf Mohammed, both fighters of the Habib Al-Barnawi-led group, along Top Medical Road, close to Mobile Quarters in Tunga area of Minna city, Niger State, among other successes recorded during its operations.

The agency expressed gratitude to Nigerians for providing useful information on criminal moves in the country and gave a reassurance that it would continue to play its part in ridding the nation of insurgents.