Confusion in Kano over JTF House to House search

There was serious confusion in the Eastern Bye Pass area of Kano early on Monday when security agents under the Joint Task force, JTF, arrived the area to conduct a house-to-house search. A resident of the area, who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES over the phone, said the security agents were conducting the search ostensibly to fish out members of the Boko Haram sect. “They have been here since morning, searching for insurgents and weapons,” he said. He added that the agents may have a point in conducting the search there because it has lately became notorious for incessant attacks. A security source informed PREMIUM TIMES that the security agents are convinced that most of the insurgents operating in Kano reside around the area. However, reports say motorists plying the Eastern Bye Pass up to Hotoro, who noticed the large presence of security agents in the area, panicked and started driving in all directions which led caused a heavy traffic build-up in most of the adjoining roads. “Everyone was confused because no one can tell what is going on and people started driving anyhow to get away and so the entire area is in a state of confusion now,” a resident told us. Kano has recently become another major hotbaed of insurgent attacks as scores of people including security officials have been killed in recent weeks. Efforts are ongoing to talk to the spokesperson of the JTF in Kano, Ikedi Iweha. His telephone numbers were earlier not reachable. Premium times