The Nigerian military said two soldiers and five suspected
members of the Islamic extremist group, Boko Haram, were killed in shootouts
early Saturday morning at Hotoro, on the outskirts of the town.
It will be recalled that Kano has
been relatively peaceful in recent months.
But news of the shattered peace came
as spokesman for the Joint Task Force (JTF) Captain Ikedichi Iwehia, told
journalists that the suspected Boko Haram members planned simultaneous suicide
attacks in the Federal capital territory (FCT) and Kano.
In an email sent to reporters, Iwehia
said “intelligence available indicates that the terrorists were in the process
of finalising the plans.”
He said in the early hours of the
day, a team of the JTF stormed two residences at Hotoro Dan Mark as part of the
ongoing search operations by the troops, and that they were confronted by the
gunmen.
He said in the ensuing shootout, five
of the suspected terrorists and two soldiers lost their lives, adding that the
security forces also confiscated about 50 AK-47 rifles and hundreds of rounds
of ammunition.
Iwehia said security was being
tightened in Kano, amid fears that insurgents were fleeing to the city from the
three North-Eastern states currently under state of emergency.
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