Revealed: How Boko Haram’s Plot to shoot Down Jonathan’s Plane in Maiduguri was Foiled – JTF

Reports have emerged of how a national tragedy was averted during last week’s two day visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to Borno and Yobe states which so far prides as the hotbed of terrorist activity as claims emerged that the dreaded Boko Haram sect had hatched a plot to shoot down the plane of President while in Maiduguri.

It was reported that few hours after the departure of President Jonathan, operatives of the JTF ambushed a hideout of suspected Boko Haram members in Maiduguri where they killed 20 of them and recovered sophisticated weapons, including guns that had the capacity to bring down aircraft.

Discovered from the hide out of the suspects are three anti-aircraft guns, two technical vehicles mounted with anti-aircraft stands and 10 rocket propelled grenades, in a cache of arms, in Maiduguri were discovered by security agencies on Friday, giving credence that there is a plot to attack the president’s plane.

In addition to the anti-aircraft guns and rocket propelled grenades, the massive arms the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Maiduguri, the day the president left the state capital after the visit, include 17 AK rifles, general purpose machine guns, three G3 rifles, 20 RPG bombs, 12 RPG chargers, 1 x 36 ,hand held grenades, one tear gas rifle, 33 AK 47 magazines, 11 FN magazines, three G 3 magazines and 11,068 assorted ammunitions.

The spokesman for the Joint Task Force in Borno State, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, in a statement emailed to journalists, yesterday, hinted that intelligence by informants led to the foiling of the insurgents alleged plan.

The statement listed the cache of arms recovered during the Friday operation while saying it was one of the JTF’s operations to combat insurgents in the last ten days. The statement reads:

“Based on information and intelligence report, series of operations were conducted by the Joint Task Force Operation RESTORE ORDER in the last ten days in Borno State.

“The latest was the one conducted at Bulabulin, Bayern Quarters and Jajeri in Maiduguri metropolis between 3 – 8 pm yesterday Friday, 8 February, 2013. During these operations under the period stated, there were exchange of fire that led to the death of 52 Boko Haram members including ten commanders of the sect. 70 terrorists were also arrested. In the period under review, the JTF lost two men, three were wounded and no civilian casualty was recorded. The under listed weapons, ammunition, uniforms and other items were recovered in yesterday’s (Friday) operation:

“3 anti-aircraft guns; 10 rocket propelled grenade tubes; 3 general purpose machine guns; 17 AK47 rifles; 3 G3 rifles;    1 pistol (lama);20 RPG bombs; 12 RPG chargers; 1x 36 hand held grenade; 1 teargas rifle; 33 AK 47 magazines;  11 FN magazines; 3 G3 magazines; 11,068 assorted ammunitions;2 technical vehicles with mounted anti-aircraft stands; 1 box of weapons cleaning kit; 4 swords and two knifes; 5 walking talkies; 4 VHF hand held sets; 1 multi links router; and assorted uniforms and kits.

“The task force wishes to thank members of the public particularly our moles in the Boko Haram’s camp for giving us the information that assisted in the successes so far recorded. Thus, members of the public are reminded to continue to give credible and timely information to security agencies to combat insecurity.”

It was also learnt, yesterday, that  security agencies have launched investigations into how the weaponry which, in size, quality and quantity, were capable of waging a full scale war either against air  or land opposition and with which targets kilometers away could be successfully taken out, were assembled.

“The fact that assorted uniforms of security agencies, especially those serving in the Joint Task Force were  recovered in the Friday operation, is  fueling the intelligence that there was indeed a plan by the group and their sponsors to breach the security of the president”, a source added.

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