Boko Haram Targets Lagos, Delta And Other Cities.

New intelligence reports available to the Armed Forces, yesterday, showed that following a round-the-clock alert in all military formations across the country to prepare for possible Boko Haram bombings, the group has perfected plans to use Federal Government, states, or Services Registration (Plate) numbers as a decoy to gain access to federal and military establishments for selected suicide attacks.

It was also discovered that in addition to the number plates, the group has commenced the massive procurement of materials used for the manufacture of bombs, i.e., Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) like gas cylinders, air conditioners, compressors of refrigerators and metal scraps for explosive ordinance making.

Vanguard gathered that aside the military formations, and federal establishments in the federal capital territory, specific cities where the group believes successful suicide bombings would create the required national damage and panic are Port Harcourt, Lagos, Kano, Kaduna and Anambra states.

Consequently, it was leant the Defence headquarters has issued a signal titled ‘Boko Haram Plans to Penetrate Targeted FG Establishments’ to all military formations in the country warning that no formation should take the threat lightly as the sect thrived on the element of surprise.

Extracts from the signal which was signed by an Air Vice Marshal (names withheld), on behalf of the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petirin, read: “Boko Haram is planning to install federal government plate numbers on its vehicles to facilitate easy penetration of federal government’s establishments, by its fighters on bombing missions”.

“The sect is also said to have commenced the procurement of used gas cylinders’, air conditioners, compressors of refrigerators and metal scraps for the manufacture of IEDs.

“By this signal, I am directing that extra vigilance must be taken by checking all vehicles and movements entering all military establishments while hurried checking of vehicles with government or service numbers must be avoided”.

A security source told Vanguard that the aspects concerning planned attack of select state capitals was not included in the military signal but would have been communicated to the state Security Services and the Nigeria Police force whose purview the states fall, adding however that if the military is required to assist in security measures to avert any calamity, they will respond.

It will be recalled that Vanguard had reported last week that members of the armed forces were put on alert following intelligence reports indicating that Boko Haram suicide bombers have been sent out by the sect to unleash devastating bomb attacks on military formations including the Defence and services headquarters of the armed forces in Abuja, prompting the introduction of tougher security measures.

The intelligence report showed that the ‘Boat House’ in particular, housing the DHQ, AHQ, NHQ and Air force headquarters, was a primary target by the group avenge the devastating blows the military has inflicted on the group since the constitution of the Special Task Force in Maiduguri.

Consequently, the Directors of Intelligence at headquarters of the Nigeria Army (DMI), Naval intelligence (DNI) and Air force intelligence (DAI) are now personally coordinating security arrangements at the Defence Headquarters and supervised by a Major General from Defence Headquarters.

VANGUARD NIGERIA