A plan orchestrated by the Islamic State of West Africa (ISWA) to bomb the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and six other states has been foiled by the Department of Security Service (DSS).
The six states in the Northern part of Nigeria that were penciled for attack included Kano, Kaduna, Niger, Bauchi, Yobe and Borno states during Eid-Kabir Sallah festivities between the 1-4 of September 2017.
According to the Director-General of Department of State Service (DSS), Mr Lawal Daura, the terrorists wanted to cause mass murder and destruction of property.
DSS, however, disclosed that the key masterminds of the plot, have been promptly arrested hence they couldn’t achieve their evil plan to unleashed terror on Abuja.
The spokesperson of the agency, Tony Opuiyo, the ISWA terrorists had planned to carry out gun attacks and suicide bombings on selected targets in the Federal Capital Territory and the six states.
National Daily gathered that the DSS gave the name of the mastermind of the failed operation as Husseini Mai-Tangaran, a well known senior ISWA commander who has been on its radar and that of the Nigeria Army since 2012.
It was further learnt that Mai-Tangaran spearheaded the armed attacks on the office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone I, on 20th January, 2012, as well as other public places in Kano.
Mai-Tangaran, it was further learnt was responsible for the deadly explosive attacks against worshippers at the Kano Central Mosque as well as an attack on a military formation in Yobe State in 2015, which claimed hundreds of lives.
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An IED expert, Mai-Tangaran, is a bonifade member of the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA), was said to have brainwashed others for the perpetration of suicide bombing attacks carried out by the group in the past within the North-East region.
Mai-Tangaran, was arrested in Kano, on 31st August, 2017, and further exploitation, led to the arrest of one Abdulkadir Umar Mohammed by the DSS on 2nd September, 2017, at Kantin Kwari Market in Fagge LGA, Kano.
He was said to have left Boko Haram in the Sambisa forest, to join ranks with Ismaila towards carrying out the attacks being planned by the group.
Others arrested by the DSS include Muhammad Ali, on the 3rd September 2017, at Sheka area in Kumbotso LGA of the State. Ali was the financial courier of the group in Kano.
He was identified as one of the conduits through which funds and other material logistics were made available to the group from foreign extremist elements cum sponsors.
“Like Abdulkadir Umar Mohammed and Ali were to spare head attacks on Kano and other States in the North during the just concluded Eid-Kabir celebration.
Also arrested on 3rd September, 2017, by the DSS are Yahaya Mohammed Abatcha and Yusuf Mohammed, along Top Medical Road, close to Mobile Quarters in Tunga area of Minna city, Niger State.
“The duo are the leading elements of a cell of the extremist group and have been hibernating and furthering the doctrines of the group in the city. They were also to be responsible for operations in FCT Abuja, Kaduna and Niger States,” DSS spokesperson reiterated.