The Nigerian Army on Wednesday said vigilant troops of 7 Division Garrison providing security at Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp, Dalori in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, have arrested an 11-year-old boy, Usman Modu Tella, a potential suicide bomber.
The teenager, according to a statement by the Army spokesperson, Col. Sani Usman, is suspect number 82 on the 100 most wanted Boko Haram terrorists released by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect was from Bama town and is among 4 other children trained for suicide bombing by the Boko Haram terrorists. He further added that the 3 others have already carried out their missions at different locations. His job was to do same in the camp sometime in the future”, Usman said.
The statement disclosed that Tella’s arrest led to the discovery of another senior Boko Haram member, Alhaji Kerewu Abubakar, at the Dalori camp.
The Army spokesman noted that due to the concerted efforts of the military, quite a number of towns and villages hitherto held by the Boko Haram terrorists were liberated, which brought about an unprecedented influx of IDPs to the camp.
He said the fleeing Boko Haram terrorists took advantage of the influx of IDPs to the camp and infiltrated it, in order to wreck more havoc among the society.
“The case of these suspects clearly indicated this point hence the need for proper screening of all IDPs with a view to ascertain their true identity. The apprehension of the suspects is a boost to the fight against terrorism and insurgency in that they were assisting with investigation that would lead to the arrest of more suspected terrorists in the camp and elsewhere”, the statement concluded.
