Fatimah Otunsanya
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have apprehended Shariff Umar, also recognized as Yusuf, who is believed to be the primary organizer of a suicide bombing network linked to a series of recent attacks and foiled plots in the North-East.
The Army disclosed this in a statement on Friday after intelligence-led cordon-and-search operations conducted at the Kalmari area of Maiduguri on New Year’s Day.
NigeriaTodayTimes recalls that suspected terrorists had on Christmas Eve attacked the Al-Adum Mosque at Gamboru Market, Maiduguri, during prayers, killing five people and injuring several others.
However, according to the statement as reported by Zagazola, the operation led to the arrest of 14 suspects linked to suicide bombing activities, with subsequent investigations uncovering the structure, roles and operational linkages of the terror cell.
It said a suspected suicide bomber currently in custody, Ibrahim Muhammad, identified Shariff Umar as the ringleader who recruited, prepared and dispatched suicide bombers to assigned targets.
Consistent and corroborated statements revealed that Shariff Umar coordinated logistics and the delivery of improvised explosive device (IED) components for suicide attacks,” the statement partly read.
The Army said investigations further established that Umar directly coordinated the suicide bombing at the Gamboru Market Mosque on Christmas Eve, in which his accomplice, identified as Adamu, detonated a suicide vest and died in the process.
He was additionally associated with the thwarted suicide bombing attempt in Damaturu, having reportedly delivered IED parts to the intended attacker in Maiduguri, the statement stated.
my The Army disclosed that additional intelligence pointed to the involvement of Umar’s spouse, Yagana Modu, while his stepdaughter, Amina, corroborated having seen the alleged bomber at their home prior to the incident.