Military warns of possible Boko Haram attacks during Eid-el-Kabir

By Lawrence Agbo

The Nigerian military has alerted residents of the North-East over possible attacks by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists during the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Headquarters Joint Task Force (North-East) Operation Hadin Kai said intelligence reports indicated that insurgents may attempt isolated attacks targeting civilians, particularly in crowded areas during the festive period.

The military spokesman for Operation Hadin Kai, Sani Uba, said the terrorists could deploy suicide bombers and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to attack locations with large gatherings.

“Credible intelligence available to the Command indicates the possibility of isolated attempts by remnant Boko Haram Terrorist (BHT) and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) elements to exploit the festive period to carry out attacks against civilian targets using suicide bombers and IEDs,” the statement said.

The military, however, assured residents that proactive measures had already been taken to prevent any security breach ahead of the celebrations.

According to the statement, troops have been deployed to vulnerable locations across the theatre of operation, while surveillance activities and patrols have also been intensified in collaboration with other security agencies, the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), and local vigilance groups.

“The Theatre Command wishes to assure the public that these threats have been thoroughly anticipated,” Uba stated.

Residents were advised to celebrate close to their homes and avoid unnecessary movement during the Eid period.

The military also urged members of the public to remain vigilant in crowded places, cooperate with security personnel, and promptly report suspicious activities.

Operation Hadin Kai further appealed to traditional rulers, religious leaders, media organisations and community stakeholders to support security efforts by encouraging residents to share credible intelligence with authorities.

The command reassured the public that troops remained fully prepared to maintain security throughout the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations in the North-East.