The Joint Task Force operating in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States, ‘Operation Restore Order’ has banned the use of satellite phones, warning that any person caught with a satellite phone will be considered an enemy of the state and a sponsor of the Boko Haram terrorist group.
This was contained in a press statement signed by the JTF spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa and made available to Journalists in Maiduguri, yesterday.
He said, “The attention of the Task Force has been drawn to the use of Thuraya phones by Boko Haram to coordinate their recent assassination of civilians especially school children and some religious scholars in the state”.
He said that effective June 19, 2013, a ban stood imposed on the use and sale of Thuraya phones and accessories including Thuraya recharge cards in Borno state.
Sagir warned that anyone seen with these banned items would be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.
It would be recalled that some suspected terrorists in the last four days, using Thuraya and other satellite phones have killed over 50 people including students and candidates writing the ongoing NECO exams in Borno and Yobe states.
The attack was the worst ever since President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in the three states last month.
The first incident occurred when 10 men, armed with assault rifles, who were reportedly on a revenge mission, raided the Alau dam, outskirts of Maiduguri, the capital city and fired sporadic shots at the direction of some youths who came from Maiduguri to buy fresh fishes and tea vendors, killing 13 persons on the spot, leaving several others wounded.
Over 13 persons were also killed in Hausari Ward by the suspected terrorists for engaging in the capture of the fleeing gunmen, just two weeks ago. Those killed comprised of some youths living in Gwange, Bulumkutu and Hausari wards, where the massive manhunt for the insurgents emanated,” an informed source noted. It was further gathered that the assailants, who were said to be on a revenge mission, had purposely launched the attack to visit their anger on the victims for their alleged involvement in the activities of the youth vigilance group, popularly known as ‘civilian JTF,’ which engaged in the massive hunt of the fleeing insurgents.
The gunmen reportedly drove in three Volkswagen Golf cars and trailed their victims to the area, disguising as customers, before firing at them, causing serious pandemonium, with everyone scampering for safety. It was gathered that when the gunmen stormed the area, they blocked all entry and exit routes, firing sporadic shots into the air and said to the victims,
A witness, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, quoted the terrorists as saying, “you are the ones exposing our colleagues to security agencies; today, your days are over, as we will kill all of you.
A resident of Gwange and a neighbour to one of the slain victims, Mallam Mohammed Musa, confirmed the incident to newsmen saying: “Yes one of my neighbours, popularly called Garus Maikifi, was among the 13 people killed by suspected Boko Haram members.” Nigerian Tribune also gathered that similar incidents had been reported in Ansarudden Pimary/Secondary School in Jajeri Ward, where gunmen walked to the examination hall, where candidates were busy writing the examination, shot and killed two students. It was also gathered that the state and Federal Low Cost Housing Estate had suffered same attacks, leading to the death of seven more students. Medical personnel at the Borno State Specialist Hospital, who also pleaded anonymity, confirmed to newsmen that corpses of the slain nine students were deposited at the morgue of the hospital.
The JTF, however, called for continued cooperation and understanding of the general public on this ban in order to enhance security of lives and property in the state.