BOKO HARAM PLANNING MASSIVE ATTACKS DURING SALLAH – JTF

The Joint Military Task Force claimed on Tuesday it had uncovered plans by Boko Haram to strike in the North during Eid-el-kabir (Thursday and Friday).

The JTF also alleged that the Islamic fundamentalists had been receiving assistance from foreign militants to carry out their deadly attacks.

JTF spokesman, Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa, said the group was planning to attack worship centres and other public places.

The statement said, “Information available to the Joint Task Force indicates that the Boko Haram terrorists are planning to launch massive attacks on military and civilian targets in Borno State before, during and after the forthcoming Sallah celebrations.

“The terrorists have invited foreign militant groups to assist them in the anticipated attacks.

“We know where they are coming from but we don’t want to disclose that because we don’t want to pre-empt our security arrangement to tackle them.”

Boko Haram members are believed to have sought training in northern Mali from Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and its allies. There has been intense speculation over whether other links have been formed with foreign groups.

The JTF has claimed that insurgents from neighbouring Chad have previously fought alongside Boko Haram.