The Federal Government has issued a security alert that
Boko Haram terrorists were planning another sensational
abduction of pupils/students or foreigners. This time, to
raise much needed funds through ransom.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai
Mohammed, said this in a statement issued in Abuja by his
Special Adviser on Media, Mr Segun Adeyemi.
“Boko Haram terrorists who have been beaten and put on
the run by the military, are planning another sensational
abduction of pupils/students or foreigners in a desperate
effort to raise funds, through ransom, for food, medical and
arms supply,” he said.
According to Mohammed, the planned abduction was in line
with the terrorists’ new modus operandi of focusing on soft
targets, having been routed from their stronghold
The statement said further: “The kidnap of the Chibok girls in
2014 which attracted global attention to the terrorist group
is what it is now trying to repeat, hoping it can find
vulnerable targets, especially schools, or a group of
foreigners outside the frontline states.
“The plan by Boko Haram is also part of an overall strategy
by the terrorists to seek to negatively impact on the psyche
of the gallant troops who have routed them (terrorists) from
their stronghold. And also give the impression that they have
not been largely defeated by the December 2015 deadline
given by this Administration to effectively degrade the
insurgency in the North-East.
“This is why we have decided to issue this alert to enable
the authorities of both public primary and secondary schools
in remote locations, particularly in the Northern states, to
upgrade their security arrangements,” the minister said.
The general public, operators of hotels and entertainment
centres, motor parks and similar facilities, according to
Mohammed, should also upgrade their security
arrangements for the holidays.
