Press Statement from Kano JTF Commander on yesterday's terrorist attack

Gentlemen of the press, good morning

The attention of the general public is hereby drawn to the latest desperate and despicable antics employed by members of the terrorist sect aimed at causing public disorder to erode the peace and calm of Kano State. At about 1810Hrs yesterday, 26 June 2012, multiple Improvised Explosive Devices were detonated by members of the terrorist sect at Goron Dutse and Dala general areas of Kano akin to the 20 January 2012 attacks in the state. The terrorist elements eventually gained access to the Dala Police Division outpost were they killed a Police Corporal and were about to loot the arms store of the Police division before the swift response of security forces.

On sighting operatives of the Joint Task Force (JTF), the terrorists attempted to flee the area but were engaged by troops of the JTF. After the intense gun battle, seven of the terrorists were killed and several wounded. Arms and ammunitions were recovered from them as well as IEDs which as at this moment are still being discovered and detonated by the Police Anti Explosive Ordinance Unit safely. Area search is still on going to apprehend those with gunshot wounds as well as other unexploded IEDs. The JTF appeals to members of the public to report immediately, any person seen with any form of wound or any suspicious package for prompt action.

Gentlemen of the press, you would recollect that a couple of days ago, members of the terrorist sect staged a prison break in Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State were about forty inmates were freed. As efforts are on to track the fleeing inmates, another situation was averted by the swift response of the JTF in Kano yesterday as the JTF believes that the intent of the terrorists was to first destabilize the closest reinforcement to the Goron Dutse prisons and then storm the prison for a possible prison break. This attempt was frustrated by the JTF.

This latest incidence once again reveals that members of the terrorist's sect would stop at nothing to destabilize the peace of the state and commercial activities which are slowly picking up. All efforts must collectively be on deck to root out these terrorists. The JTF once again thanks the good people of Kano state for the cooperation it has been receiving from them. The JTF urges the general public to continue to cooperate with it in the area of providing information on suspicious persons within the communities and to remain vigilant to apprehend terrorists who may be lurking around to drop IEDs. It will be recalled that the same terrorist gangs having failed in their attempt to destabilize Kano earlier went and planted IED in a mosque in Fagge just before last Friday's prayers with an intent to invoke religious conflicts among the adherents of the two major religions thereby achieving their aim of destabilizing the state. The JTF will continue to treat all information given with the utmost confidentiality.

Once again, thank you.

Regards to all.

Lt IO Iweha
HQ 3 Bde PRO