Boko Haram: JTF bans Thuraya phones in Borno

[PeoplesDaily]

From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri & Joy Baba, Abuja

The Joint Military Task Force (JTF) in Borno state yesterday imposed an outright ban on the sale and use of Thuraya (satellite) mobile telephone as well as its accessories in the entire state. Our correspondent reports that following the cutting off of mobile telecommunications network over a month ago, some residents resorted to the use of Thuraya phones as alternative. However, spokesman for the JTF, Lt-Col. Sagir Musa, in a statement, said the measure had become imperative as Boko Haram insurgents had reportedly used such phones to communicate with one another before launching the latest attacks in parts of the state.

According to the statement, "the attention of the JTF has been drawn to the use of Thuraya phones by Boko Haram to coordinate the recent assassination of civilians especially school children and Imams", the statement said.

"Therefore, effective from June 19, 2013, the JTF imposes a ban on the use and sale of Thuraya phone, its accessories and recharge cards in Borno state.

"Anyone found violating the ban will be arrested."

The statement urged the general public for continued assistance and cooperation over the measure which it said was aimed at safeguarding their lives and property.

Meanwhile, following a new strategy by suspected Boko Haram insurgents to conceal weapons inside coffins, security forces in Borno state have commenced searching of coffins on a burial procession, a Peoples Daily investigation revealed yesterday.

This came about two weeks after suspected insurgents went on a revenge mission, killing 13 persons in Hausari Ward of Maiduguri metropolis.

Witnesses said the assailants had hidden assault rifles inside a coffin and smuggled them into the area, pretending to be mourners on a burial procession before firing sporadic shots into the crowd.

It was observed that operatives of JTF stationed in various streets of the town began extensive surveillance on any corpse being taken for burial to discover if weapons were concealed in the casket carrying the presumed deceased.

Similarly, beside extensive search on the contents of the coffin, all the motorcades and occupants in the burial procession were subjected to thorough checks.

Our correspondent, who spotted a funeral procession along Post Office road yesterday reports that JTF personnel deployed at the abandoned building belonging to the Nigerian Telecommunication Company (NITEL) stopped the mourners who were in a convoy of over 20 vehicles.

Five of the soldiers were seen trying to ascertain the content of a coffin, with others searching other vehicles.

The mourners were allowed to proceed with the burial after the security officers were convinced that the coffin was indeed carrying a corpse.

A cross section of residents who spoke to our reporter expressed total support for the new security tactics adopted by the JTF in its aggressive search for hidden weapons.

in a related development, defence Headquarters in Abuja said yesterday that some fleeing insurgents recently carried out attacks and killing of innocent citizens recently in Borno and Yobe states.

This was contained in a press statement signed by the Director of Defence Information, (DDI) Brig-Gen Chris Olukolade.

Olukolade said the whole trend and development remains unfortunate and condemnable assuring the public that these incidences are by no means indicative of a relapse in the counter-insurgency operation aimed at curbing terrorists' activities in the country.

According to the statement, "this trend of sneaking in to carry out isolated attack on soft targets as a way of seeking attention is a typical end-game strategy often employed by insurgents all over the world.

"In this instance, the recent activities are signs of desperation of a decimated insurgent group attempting to hang on to public consciousness.

"With the destruction of their operational bases and camps by the Special Forces, the group's centre of gravity has been effectively dislocated making it impossible for them to have freedom of action to operate as they did previously".

The DDI further said the Special Forces had stepped up the mop up, cordon and search operations to ensure that the vestiges of terrorism are effectively further decimated in those states.

He said eight of the terrorists who perpetrated the mayhem during the weekend have been apprehended at the outskirts of Maiduguri and urged members of the public to continue to report any suspicious movements to security agents.

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[Folami David]

JTF are really doing well to kill out Bokoharam in the north and we have to appreciate them for that. Very dope of them.