Breaking: Police name Boko Haram terrorist who planned to bomb Atiku’s house, others
Hours after a failed bomb attack on the Adamawa State residence of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other facilities, the police have announced the arrest of the Boko Haram suspect.
The suspect named Jubrila Mohammed who was arrested on July 23 about 21:44 hours , the day of the planned bomb attack, is now currently facing interrogation at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID). He was nabbed at Atiku’s residence gate, police sources say.
The suspect, aged 29, who claimed to hail from Damboa, Borno State, has already confessed that his mission was to bomb Modibbo Adama Central Mosque as well as America University of Nigeria (AUN) owned by Atiku. He confessed to be working with a group of terrorists some of who are currently at large. They include one Ardo (their leader), Mahmoud, Kachala and one Alayi Liman.
The suspect was further said to have confessed to have been engaged in multiple attack missions orchestrated by Boko Haram in the past 15 years.
Police authorities said they have stepped up surveillance to nab his co-travelers and hand them over to the military after profiling for further action.
Recall that the plot to bomb Atiku’s residence was thwarted on Sunday.
It was gathered that the planned attack may not be unconnected with the ongoing Presidential Election Petition Tribunal where Atiku is challenging the declaration of Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima as president and Vice President respectively by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Boko Haram sect, which operates from Borno State, is ranked among one of the deadliest terrorist groups in the world. The religious extremist sect, which believes western education is forbidden, has killed hundreds of people, kidnapped many and ravaged the better part of the North East region where they emanate from.
The plot was blown open when a member of the terrorist group was apprehended while asking persons around the vicinity to ascertain the actual house of the former Vice President.
Upon interrogation, he disclosed that he is a Boko Haram member and that he, alongside four others, were sent to bomb Atiku’s residence and the two other facilities.
The terrorist, who was arrested and handed over to the Police Division in Dougirei, revealed that they had three bombs on them for the operation.
A source at the residence of the former president said: “About 9pm, a man appeared at your Dougirei residence and asked for confirmation whether this is Atiku’s house. He said he is in Adamawa for a special assignment along with four of his colleagues. He said they’re Boko Haram members and have come from Damboa in Borno.
“Their assignment is to carry out attacks at the Modibbo Adama Central Mosque and AUN. They have in their possession three bombs, one for each of the aforementioned locations and they’ve been instructed to keep the third one until further notice. However, we have handed him over to the Dougirei Police Division.”
The source further revealed that the attack is connected to the ongoing hearing of the petition against the outcome of the February 25 presidential election.