The Joint Task Force (JTF) on Operation Restore order in Borno State, has said that its operatives and men of the State Security Service (SSS), in a gun battle at about 2.20 p.m. on Wednesday, gunned down two top sect commanders on Maiduguri/ Kano road.

A statement from the JTF, which was signed by Lieutenant-Colonel Sagir Musa, said the security outfit was provided with intelligence report when the top commanders were about fleeing the state.

According to the statement, “the terrorists were top commanders coordinating the sect’s activities in Mubi and Yola in Adamawa as well as Yobe states. They were travelling in a silver ash colour Honda Accord 2000 model car with registration number Bam 214 AA. They were on their way to Damaturu for a planned special operation to attack civilians and military locations today (Thursday 20, September 2012).”

The statement also said intelligence report equally revealed that they were meant to carry out attacks in Maiduguri, adding that, items recovered from them include a Honda car, five handsets and weapons.

In another development, the JTF said in earlier operations, a total of eight sect members were arrested in Garanam, GRA and Lawanti areas of Maiduguri metropolis.

It also said that those arrested were discovered to have found their way into Maiduguri from neigbouring states. 

Items recovered during the arrests include a 1988 model silver colour Camry car with Yobe State registration number AE 574 DTR, suspected to have been stolen for possible suicide attack and movement of weapons.

The JTF, while thanking law abiding members of the public for the timely information, also appealed to them to report suspicious movement and activities in their neigbourhood to security agencies.

Meanwhile, about 12 shops were said to have been set ablaze by soldiers around Budum area of Maiduguri following the killing of a medicine seller in the area by gunmen suspected to be members of the sect.

An eyewitness told the Nigerian Tribune that the soldiers were allegedly angry with the people for not being able to provide information about the killers, which according to them, lived in the neigbourhood.

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