Tension As Boko Haram Hijacks Explosives In Yobe

Suspected Boko Haram members have hijacked high calibre explosives from a quarry in Yobe State.

Investigations on Monday revealed that about 25 of the insurgents broke into the quarry located in Bara, the headquarters of the Gulani Local Government Area of Yobe State on Sunday night, carting away the high caliber dynamites neatly arranged in a room.

It was learnt that on their arrival at the quarry, the insurgents broke into the room where the explosives were kept, broke the door and took away five of the bags containing the explosives.

It was learnt that the invading Boko Haram insurgents, reputed for being brutal in all their operations, did not kill any of the quarry workers during the late night operation.

The invasion has triggered strong suspicions in security circles that the seizure of the dynamites from the Bara quarry might have an insider's collaboration.

It was learnt that one of the explosives in the possession of the Boko Haram members had the capacity to destroy a community.

Investigations revealed that the leadership of the Joint Task Force had commenced massive manhunt for the insurgents to prevent them from distributing the items to carry out devastating attacks in the three states under emergency rule.

The JTF, it was learnt, was apprehensive that the insurgents could launch attacks with the explosives during the Ramadan celebrations.

It was further gathered that the leadership of the JTF in Yobe State had written to all the quarries in possession of such dangerous explosives to move them to the state capital, Damaturu, where they could be protected but the companies allegedly ignored the directive.

A source said the security operatives would not hesitate to hold the companies accountable for any destruction wreaked by the Boko Haram with the dynamites.

The source said, "The Boko Haram invaded the quarry around 2am and carted away five bags of explosives. Each of the bags contains very high calibre explosives used for blasting rocks. These are the type of explosives that can bring down a community."


Punch