…as corps’ intelligence report claims Boko Haram, ISWAP fighters set for onslaught on cities
An intelligence report by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has uncovered a planned attack on President Muhammadu Buhari’s home state of Katsina, Lagos, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and other parts of the country by two insurgent groups – the Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West Africa.
According to the NSCDC, from intelligence it gathered, the two insurgent groups have already mobilised their fighters equipped with dangerous weapons such as Anti-Aircraft Guns, General Purpose Machine Guns, among others, in preparation for the attack on Katsina State, President Buhari’s home state.
These claims by the NSCDC were contained in a leaked July 25 report addressed by the corps to all commands, but which was sighted on Tuesday.
NSCDC Deputy Commandant General Controller in charge of Operations, DD Mungadi, signed the intelligence report entitled, “Re: Heightened plots by terrorists to stage coordinated attacks in parts of the country”.
The report read, “We have received credible intelligence that Boko-Haram and the ISWAP terrorist groups have mobilised fighters and high calibre weapons particularly Rocket-propelled Grenade launchers, Anti-Aircraft guns, and General Purpose Machine Guns which they intend to deploy for the offensive in Katsina State.”
The report also hinted that the terrorist groups were also planning attacks on Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Kaduna and Zamfara.
But the report added that the NSCDC Commandant General had directed the state Commandants of the corps to put security measures in place to avert the attacks by the terrorist groups in the identified states and Abuja.
It further stated, “In another development, two separate bandits groups are plotting coordinated attacks on North-West, North Central and South West (Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kogi, FCT and Lagos, respectively).
“Consequently, the Commandant General has directed you to scale up deployment in all strategic places including Schools, Worship Centres, and Critical National Assets in your respective states, to checkmate any possible threats by these criminal elements. Please treat as urgent.”
The NSCDC had yet to make any statement on the development as of the time of filing this report.
There have been heightened activities of terrorist and bandit groups in Katsina in recent times.
Recently, President Muhammadu Buhari’s advance team of security personnel was attacked in the state. Two policemen were also killed in Katsina by the terrorists.