Nigerian military confirms death of Boko Haram's bomb maker
Xinhua, May 24, 2016 Adjust font size:
Authority of the Nigerian Army has confirmed the killing of Boko Haram's chief bomb maker by his colleagues in one of their camps in the Sambisa forest.
The group's bomb maker was shot while trying to flee their camp, Col. Sani Usman, the Army spokesperson said in a statement reaching Xinhua.
He said the slain terrorist was a high ranking officer in the command structure of the group.
According to Usman, his killing is a major breakthrough in the clearance and rescue operation by the Nigerian military and confirmation that all is not well within the Boko Haram terrorists camp.
The military spokesperson said the bomb maker, apart from his high status in the command structure of the Boko Haram terrorists, was one of their capable hands involved in making Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
He was appointed after the demise of their chief scientist called Abu RPG who has been killed long ago in one of the operations conducted by the troops.
The bomb maker was killed by one of the body guards of their leader, Abubakar Shekau, as he was about to run away because of the intensity of military "Operation CRACKDOWN."
Usman said one "Julelebeeb" who was appointed to take over as the new bomb expert for the sect was also reported to have gone blind.
According to Usman, his two eyes were shattered by shrapnel, in the process of preparing an IED to consolidate his appointment as the sect's new bomb expert.
Usman said the development would impact negatively on the terrorists' capacity on IED preparation, suicide bombing and their ability to sustain their criminal acts.
He said troops were continuing with the clearance and rescue operations successfully in order to completely clear Boko Haram terrorists wherever they might be hiding in Sambisa and environs. Endit