Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have arrested two suspected suicide bombers behind the December 24 explosion at a mosque in Gamboru market, Borno state.
According to Zagazola Makama, a security analyst and counterinsurgency expert, one of the suspects was arrested in Banki town, Borno, during joint operations and intelligence-led patrols by troops of the joint task Force north-east (JTF-NE).
The second suspect was arrested earlier in Damaturu, Yobe state, in connection with the December 24 suicide bomb attack at the Gamboru Market Mosque in Maiduguri.
According to Zagazola, the attack was part of coordinated plans by elements of Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS), Ansaru, and Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) to execute suicide bombings and improvised explosive device (IED) attacks across parts of the north-east.
The security analyst said investigations revealed that a Boko Haram team led by a notorious IED expert, Munzir Abu Ziyadah, allegedly prepared up to 10 person-borne improvised explosive devices (PBIEDs) at the Ali Ngulde camp axis.
He said the terrorists reportedly moved through the Ngoshe Mountains towards Gazuwa and Ngom, infiltrating several communities in Borno ahead of the planned attacks.
One of the attackers successfully detonated an explosive at the Gamboru Market Mosque on December 24, killing five worshippers and injuring 32 others.
Following the attack, Abdulsalam Abubakar, the theatre commander of the JTF north-east, Operation Hadin Kai, ordered a shift from routine security presence to hunter-killer and pre-emptive interdiction operations across the theatre.
Zagazola reported that at about 5:40 p.m. on December 29, troops deployed at the Banki Central Mosque intercepted a suspected suicide bomber in possession of primed IED materials. Additional incriminating items were reportedly recovered, and the suspect is currently undergoing detailed interrogation.
He added that investigations into the Gamboru market mosque attack have recorded further breakthroughs with the arrest and repatriation of another suspected suicide bomber from Yobe state.
The suspect, identified as Ibrahim, was arrested in Damaturu, the Yobe state capital, by a hunters’ group working in collaboration with Operation Hadin Kai and was brought to Maiduguri on December 29 for further interrogation.
Sources said Ibrahim was taken to the Izala Mosque in the Tashan Joni area of Maiduguri, where he identified a location where he claimed to have dropped a bag containing an IED after failing to gain access to the mosque.
However, the device was not found at the spot.
Further interrogation reportedly led the suspect to confess that he planted another IED-laden bag at the entrance of the Gamboru market mosque on December 24, while his accomplice, identified as Adamu, now deceased, entered the mosque wearing a suicide vest which was detonated inside.
The suspect also disclosed that six suicide bombers were deployed to Maiduguri ahead of the attack under the coordination of a terror kingpin.
He reportedly identified three of the bombers — Salisu, Yusuf and Adamu — as residents of Maiduguri, while the remaining three — Adamu, Yusuf and Abdullahi — allegedly came from Michika LGA of Adamawa state.
