Five members of the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram, suspected to be behind a plan to bomb government formations in Port Harcourt have been arrested by the army.

Our correspondent learnt that the five suspects were arrested in the oil city last month and were being detained at 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt in Rivers State.

SUNDAY PUNCH’s investigations revealed that the men of the Military Intelligence in the brigade apprehended the culprits with Improvised Explosive Devices, the type that had been used by the Islamic sect for devastating attacks in Abuja and other parts of the North.

According to a senior military source, who pleaded anonymity, investigations have showed that the suspects were on a mission to carry out a bomb attack on the Port Harcourt Brigade and oil installations on December 25, 2011, the same day as the tragic Madalla killings.

Army interrogators reportedly found out that the aborted bombing of the Port Harcourt Brigade was planned to coincide with the devastating one in Madalla

The source added that the military authorities had been silent on the arrest, considered a major breakthrough, because of the need to ensure the success of the search for the members of the sect.

Incidentally, the six members were arrested a day before the bombing of the St. Theresa Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State on Christmas Day.

A source, who confided in one of our correspondents, said military interrogators were able to extract “valuable information” from the five men.

urther investigations by our correspondent revealed that three of the arrested terror suspects were Hausa Fulani, one a Yoruba Muslim and the other a South-South Islamic convert from Calabar, Cross River State.

Our correspondent gathered that a soldier, who had been arrested alongside the five suspects, was found to be innocent and was released to go at the end of the investigations.

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the 2 Brigade Command, Port Harcourt, Lieutenant Colonel Aminu Iliyasu, confirmed the arrest of the suspects.

Iliyasu, who spoke in a telephone interview with SUNDAY PUNCH on Friday, disclosed that the matter had been referred to the appropriate authorities for further investigation.

“The matter has been referred to the appropriate authorities,” the army spokesman, who did not make further comment on the arrest of the suspects, said.

Earlier on Thursday, the Commander of the 2 Brigade Nigerian Army Port Harcourt in Rivers State, Brigadier General Yusuf Buratai, confirmed that security agencies in the state foiled an attempt to bomb the army formation, Bougavilla Hotel and the Shell facility in the state capital.

“Through the collaborative efforts of the Brigade and DSS, an attempt to bomb Port Harcourt Barrack (Bori Camp), Bougainvilla Hotel and Shell facility along Aba Road was foiled on night of December 24, 2011.

“The suspects were arrested in the barracks as well as other locations within Port Harcourt city. They had materials for making Improvised Explosive Devices capable of causing heavy damage,” Buratai noted.

The interrogation of the suspects is coming just as the FG on Friday set up a panel of inquiry to investigate the escape of Kabiru Umar (a.k.a. Kabiru Sokoto), the alleged mastermind of the Madalla Christmas Day church bombing that claimed at least 44 lives, from custody of the police.

The Minister of Police Affiars, Mr. Caleb Olubolade, had said that the panel, which is made up of senior police ministry officials and military officers, had been given a week to submit its findings on how Sokoto managed to slip his handlers while being transferred for interrogation in Abuja.

he Inspector-General Hafiz Ringim has already been given a query over the escape of Sokoto, who is accused of belonging to the sect.

The minister added that the IG’s response to the query was being considered by the panel.

Already, the police have offered a N50m bounty for information leading to Sokoto’s capture.

Meanwhile, military authorities have issued a repeated directive to all military formations in the country to be on the red alert and be holistic in the screening of visitors as a result of the simultaneous bomb blasts that rocked Kano city on Friday evening.

The screening process is to involve all military personnel and cars that are painted in military colours.

part from using the newly acquired bomb detectors in screening vehicles visiting the military formations, military personnel are also directed to ensure a physical screening of all visitors.

A highly-placed military source said, “Yes, there is a directive to that effect, anybody going into our barracks would be thoroughly screened to avoid any incident of bomb attacks.

“Yes, it is true that bombs can explode anywhere but we are taking precautionary measure.”

Also, top military personnel, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, said it was not unexpected for the military to put its men on the red alert.

The source added that the Kano blast had reinforced the fact that members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect were after security agencies and agents.

When our correspondent contacted the Director of Army Public Relations, Maj. Raphael Isa, he said it was his prayer that army formations were not attacked by the sect.

“I pray that they don’t try to attack our formation; that is my reaction,” he said.

On Friday, an eyewitness at the scene of the police headquarters that was bombed said the bomber pulled up near the building on a motorbike, got off and ran towards the building holding a bag.

“We tried to stop him but he ran in forcefully with his bag. All of a sudden there was a blast. You can see that the building is damaged,” said a policeman at the scene.

A second blast hit Kano’s Immigration office. There were conflicting reports on the number of bombs, with accounts of between four and 20 blasts.

n January 2, 2012, a purported spokesman for Boko Haram warned that the group would confront soldiers and threatened Christians living in the country’s North.

The threat from the spokesman gave southerners living in the North three days to leave the region just after President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in some local government areas of some hard-hit states.

It also warned military troops that Boko Haram would confront them.

Reacting to the threat, the National Security Adviser, Owoye Azazi, said, “I can assure you the security forces are up to it.”

http://www.punchng.com/news/five-boko-haram-bombers-arrested-in-port-harcourt-%E2%80%A2army-puts-formations-on-the-red-alert/

Na MEND turoble dem dey find. This is a fire starter.

[size=18pt]Good job!

Now, hang them upside down. . .[/size]

^^^^Mama Gee. G for general!
Kedu, bawo ni?

Arresting boko haram members and charge them to court can not solve this problem.No boko haram member has been sentence by the court.Just kill them immediately will reduce their number than to charge them to court

and they will be granted bail on tuesday or wednesday and na the same pdp members will come in as guarantors.
pdp is using this boko haram to fill their blood banks and then make us confused as not to look their ways over their corrupt practises.
i am even thinking pdp could be anti Christ.

I hope enough information have been extracted from them in respect of who and who is their master/sponsors?

LETS HOPE THEY DON'T "ESCAPE" VERY SOON . WE ALL KNOW "ESCAPE" IS THE NEW TERM FOR OUR SECURITY FORCES IN NIGERIA NOW .

Wow

i only hope this is real and not some cooked up story like the enugu bomber

are there any pictures of the bombers, and what are their names?

I don't know why Nigeria govt can't try them in military court, they should never be try as civilian in the civil court until Nigeria govt adopt this step they won't break through.

is not just to arrest, we are tire of arrest. we need prosecution and execution of these people in public

Nigerian police is a big joke. Those arrested might not have anything to do with the bomb

How come we‘re just hearing it now? How do we know if they‘ve not long been bailed or helped to escape and have since re-joined their conterparts in the north.

Joe50:

Is not just to arrest, we are tired of arrest. We need prosecution and execution of these people in public .

I tire for them oh my brother.

j.pilata:

Arresting boko haram members and charge them to court can not solve this problem.No boko haram member has been sentence by the court.Just kill them immediately will reduce their number than to charge them to court

Lemme add extract every bit of information from their pesky little brain before killling them, It is becoming obvious that the military are more capable of using intelligence reports than our #20/#50 uniformed men, IGP should be sacked and jailed alongside his partner in crime Biu

Niger don cast, All of a sudden, 5 members?? .  innocent people, choi. , We are seriously sleeping on okada,

Heiiiii God Of Heaven, Even in port harcourt tooouuu. I dey fear oooo. Where would we run to now

And come to think of it, i thought it was only the northern muslims that are involved in this inhumane act. So southern muslims do join them too. Watch you back people. But why didnt the army release such a sensitive info to the public for us to know who to look out for.

wilxz:

But why didnt the army release such a sensitive info to the public for us to know who to look out for.

Like you said, it is a sensitive information. So releasing it out in the public can cause undue outcry. No matter how you gauge, this has become purely political otherwise why 'd BH target port Harcourt what will they state as their reason for encroaching into the SS? What pains me the most is that we have a lame duck president who time and time again issues the same rhetoric: "The will face the full wrath of the law". The ones that a trailed get bailed, the ones that are captured get released so waht law is Mr President talking about?
He is not serious, he neva matches his words with action, 24hrs ultimatum to the IGP yet nothin has happened even after 2days, I think we need to stage a protest all over the country on the lack of will power in the federal govt,

story story, soon all that is in the dark will be in the open, i just hope my southern peeps will not be shocked to the point of heart attack

Yorubas and Hausas teaming up to destroy Nigeria the Islamic way. Religion of Piss indeed.

deadie:

Yorubas and Hausas teaming up to destroy Nigeria the Islamic way. Religion of Piss indeed.

I hate when ppl try so hard to be bigots, The piece also included a convert from calabar, so how come you missed out that line? And the last time I checked, an Igbo convert was also caught at Suleja. So people lets not start playing the ethnic card here. This group BokoHaram simply thrives in using ISLAM as a cover for its political agenda, Otherwise why will they attack port harcourt? Is that part of their threat for southerners to leave the north? This is clearly a script by some persons or group of persons to plunge the nation into an all out war, Read in between the lines

Hmm, watch they will all be released one week later.

Na so d thing take dey start oooo, first, dey go claim dey av arrested boko haram members (we no dey ever see dem or hear say dem prosecute dem). Second, the so called 'boko haram' go demand for release of dier (invisible) members. Third, bomb go begin explode everywhr, killing poor innocent pple, boko haram go claim responsibility. Na d pattern b dat. Mek govt no dey use our lives play ooo.

Nawa oo Yoruba book harem, hope odua will be able to control Islam extremist when Nigeria breaks up

Job well done. But BOKO HARAM members in military will set them free as it was done by members of BOKO HARAM in police force

Its time the federal govt enacts a law, making this evil boko haram terrorist movement a highly illegal ,and dangerous terrorist organisation. Any membership or sponsoring of boko haram should be punishable only by death .

Boko haram has caused this country nothing but pain, agony, and terrible death of innocent nigerians. Enough is enough DEATH TO ALL BOKO HARAM !!

Boko Haran will soon be history.

j.pilata:

Arresting boko haram members and charge them to court can not solve this problem.No boko haram member has been sentence by the court.Just kill them immediately will reduce their number than to charge them to court

lol . . . So, the killing of the Boko Haram member by the police back in, I believe, 2009, that essentially emboldened the group, resulting in expanding their mission to terrorize of the north, and the nation, don fade already for your mind??

Bringing their madness to the Niger-Delta is looking for extermination of the northerners from those areas

GEJ To Nigerians: Do not panic, torrorist act happen all over the world, pls try to be calm