The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, on Friday alerted Nigerians of an alleged plot by Boko Haram affiliate, Muslim Brotherhood Cell in Kogi State, to launch a deadly attack on banks, army depots and prisons across the nation.
In a statement signed by his Special Assistant, Segun Ayeyemi, Mohammed disclosed that the Cell was planning to acquire bomb-making chemicals and high-calibre weapons which it intends to use in perpetrating the act.
According to the statement made available, the Minister revealed that intelligence monitoring had shown that the cell was making frantic efforts in advancing its Improved Explosive Devises, IEDs.
The statement reads, “One Usman, an IED apprentice, left the cell some time back to join Islamic State in Libya. The new desire to acquire IED precursor chemicals could suggest that Usman or other persons may have returned from Libya and have acquired IED-making skills intended to increase the activities of the group.”
Mohammed said intelligence also revealed that the group is making serious efforts to acquire sophisticated arms, including shoulder-fired rocket launchers.
The Minister appealed to Nigerians to be vigilant and to report any suspicious persons or movements to the appropriate authorities.
“Further intelligence monitoring has revealed that members of the Muslim Brotherhood are planning to forcefully free their members who are in detention in Kogi, Abuja and Kaduna, including one Bilyaminu, an IED expert for the group who is now at Kuje prison,” he said.