Niger police arrest 5 suspected Boko Haram members

Boko-Haram leaders

Niger Republic has arrested five people near the Nigerian border suspected of belonging to the militant Nigerian Islamist group, Boko Haram, Niger security officials said on Tuesday.

The group has been blamed for more than 1,000 deaths in Nigeria since 2010. Observers said the suspects are using Niger as a transit route to link up with other militant groups like al-Qaeda in the Islamic Magreb, now controlling Northern Mali.

“State Security Police arrested the five suspected Boko Haram members who entered Niger on Sunday through the Zinder region. They have been transferred to Niamey for further questioning,” a security official said, asking not to be named told Reuters.

Another security official said Niger had tightened security along its border with Nigeria as the country intensifies its fight against the militant group, which wants to carve out an Islamic state in Northern Nigeria.

Nigeria’s military had announced the death of 35 members of Boko Haram and arrested several during an overnight gun battle in Damaturu, capital of North Eastern Yobe state which borders Niger.

Boko Haram invades Damaturu Prison, frees 40 prisoners

Police spokesperson, Mr Frank Mba, confirmed the incident

Damaturu— Suspected members of the Jam’atul Ahlis Sunnah Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad otherwise known as Boko Haram,on June 24, 2012, staged a daring attack on the Damaturu prison on Gashua Road, and set free 40 of their members who were being detained.

A fleeing inmate was said to have been killed while a prison warder was injured during the attack.

Police spokesperson, Mr Frank Mba, who confirmed the incident, said unknown gunmen staged a jailbreak yesterday in Damaturu and freed about 40 inmates, adding that  a prison warder was injured and that one fleeing inmate was killed in a gunfight.

In another development, spokesman of the Boko Haram sect, Abu Qaqa, has said the sect was not responsible for bomb that was found in a mosque in Kano, on Friday.

Qaqa in a statement, yesterday, said: “In respect of what we heard in the media yesterday (Friday) that some people attempted to detonate a bomb in a Juma’at mosque in Kano, this movement Jama’atu Ahlissunnah Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad hereby dissociates itself from this act.

“We are fully aware of this kind of conspiracy by the SSS, following a similar pattern of their counterparts in other countries to tarnish the image and reputation of Islamic fighters, they will not succeed, God’s willing.

“Everyone knows that we are waging Jihad to restore the supremacy of Islam, which is why we are labelled ‘Muslim fundamentalists’,  how on earth can we then attempt to destroy a Muslim place of worship. This is, therefore, a conspiracy by those that are averse to the enthronement of an Islamic state, and they will not succeed by God’s grace.”

 

MASSIVE BOMBINGS AND GUNSHOTS IN DAMATURU, YOBE STATE

Abubakar Mohammed Inspector General of Nigerian Police

I just got the report of massive bombings and gunshots in Damaturu, Yobe State.

The attacks began around 5:00pm, according to witnesses who say that no less the 25 gunshots have been heard. The Joint Military Task Force (JTF) and Boko Haram militants are engaged in ongoing gun battles in the Sabon Pegi area, near the residence of Gov. Ibrahim Geidam.

A source has just informed me that  sporadic shootings are still taking place in the New Jerusalem area. My source, along others, are in hiding as the fighting between JTF forces and Boko Haram members is increasing in intensity.

Sources confirmed that residents are taking refugee in various areas throughtout the city.