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ABUJA— Troops of 3 Division of the Nigerian Army and officials of the Department of State Services, DSS, have arrested the mastermind of the coordinated bombings in Jos, Plateau State and Zaria, Kaduna State on Sunday and Tuesday, respectively.

President Muhammadu Buhari has, meantime, declared that the days of Boko Haram are numbered just as the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki-Moon, commended his determination to fight Boko Haram.

Military sources in Abuja said the terrorist kingpin responsible for the Jos and Zaria bombings was arrested at a checkpoint in Dadin Kowa, Gombe State.

The alleged mastermind was said to have disguised and hid in a trailer in order to beat security but was spotted by eagle-eyed members of the Special Task Force. He was arrested with two alleged accomplices.

“The arrested terrorists are currently being processed for further action and would soon face the full wrath of the law,” the source said.

According to the source, the arrests were made possible by a swift action of the STF which established a security cordon in the general areas, especially along Bauchi, Gombe and the North Eastern part of the country immediately after the Jos blasts.

Suspected Boko Haram terrorists had carried out coordinated bomb and gun attacks on worshippers at Ýan Taya mosque, Dillimi Street, off Bauchi Road, Jos where worshipers had gathered for a Ramadan tafsir, and Shagalinku Restaurant, along Bauchi Road, Jos.

Forty eight persons were reportedly killed in the two attacks, while scores were also injured and property destroyed.

Similarly, terrorists carried out another bomb attack on hapless workers undergoing verification exercise at Sabon Gari Local Government Secretariat, Zaria Kaduna State which resulted in the death of over 25 people.

The source appealed to members of the public to be more vigilant, security conscious and report any suspicious persons, movements, and facilities to the security agencies to nip in the bud plots by terrorists to kill innocent Nigerians.

Ki-Moon commends Buhari

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, on Tuesday in New York, commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s determination in the fight against Boko Haram. Ki-Moon said in a statement that he had noted Buhari’s determination to root out the menace.

He also commended the countries of the Lake Chad Basin Commission and Benin for their steadfast efforts in the fight against Boko Haram.

The UN chief strongly condemned the attacks by Boko Haram in the Lake Chad Basin countries, including the deliberate targeting of Christian and Muslim worshippers during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in Borno and Yobe States.

He extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and further renewed his calls to support the operationalisation of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) through the provision of the requisite political, logistical and financial resources.

He also called for necessary expertise, consistent with international humanitarian, human rights and refugee law.

Boko Haram’s days are numbered —Buhari

Meantime, President Buhari, yesterday, encouraged Nigerians not to despair over the continued Boko Haram attacks against the Nigerian state, assuring that insurgency will soon become history.

Buhari’s assurance followed his condolences to all Nigerians who lost relatives in the latest terrorist atrocities in Jos, Kano and Zaria recently.

In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the President “urged all Nigerians not to be unduly disheartened by the seeming resurgence of terrorist attacks and atrocities in the country as his administration remains fully committed to overcoming the challenges of insecurity, terrorism and insurgency as quickly as possible.”

Shehu stated that “already, the intensified onslaught by the military on terrorists’ strongholds has led to significant seizures of weapons and vehicles, a blockage of their sources of arms and ammunition, and a decimation of their fighting men.

“Buhari assures Nigerians of the ability and readiness of the country’s armed forces and security agencies to contain the frantic resort by the terrorists to attacks on soft targets such as crowds and places of worship.

“The President is convinced that with recent increases in troops deployment, improvements in the supply of arms and equipment to the military, as well as the ongoing effort to mobilize greater international cooperation and support, the end of Boko Haram and terrorism in Nigeria is in sight.”

Credit: Vanguard Nigeria