SAN FRANCISCO, September 10, (THEWILL) – The Department of State Services (DSS) said it foiled sinister plans by terrorists to cause mayhem and destruction in Nigeria during the Eid-Kabir festivities between 1 September and 4 September.
The agency said the plan by the terror group, identified as Islamic State for West Africa (ISWA), 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.
It named the mastermind of the plot as Husseini Mai-Tangaran, a well known senior ISWA commander who has been on the Service and Nigerian Army radar 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.
Mai-Tangaran, the DSS said, was also responsible for the bomb 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.
“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,” the DSS said.
“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 2nd September, 2017, at Kantin Kwari Market in Fagge LGA, Kano.
“Mohammed was a fighter of the sect who left the conclave of the group in the Sambisa forest, to join ranks with ISWA 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, 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.
“Furthermore, in a related tactical operation on 3rd September, 2017, the Service apprehended the duo of one Yahaya Mohammed Abatcha and Yusuf Mohammed, along Top Medical Road, close to Mobile Quarters in Tunga area of Minna city, Niger State.”
NAN reports that the DSS was grateful to the general public for its support and cooperation in providing useful information on criminal and terrorist elements in their domain.
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