The bomb expert for Islamist extremist sect Boko Haram believed to be responsible for
recent explosions that killed hundreds of people was arrested by the Nigerian police, local newspaper Premium Times reported Friday.
The bomb expert was arrested by soldiers at a checkpoint near Bama in northern Borno State because he was carrying “sophisticated communication gadgets, a map, a very expensive laptop and 30 pieces of Flash-Drives,” according to the military official. He was on route to Sambisa forest, which is believed to be a regular
hiding spot for Boko Haram members.
The man, whose name was not published, confessed his involvement in three major bomb attacks – in the capital, Abuja, and the central city of Jos, the newspaper reported a military source as saying.
At least 75 people were killed by a blast at a bus terminal in Abuja’s Nyanya neighbourhood on April 14. Two weeks later, a second bombing in Nyanya killed 19 people. On May 20, two blasts at Jos’ main market killed about 200 people. .
The announcement comes a day after President Goodluck Jonathan pledged to use all available means to ward off the threat of terrorism and announced an amnesty for Boko Haram members who abandon arms.
Boko Haram, which means “Western education is sinful,” killed more than 1,000 people in weekly attacks in northern and central Nigeria this year alone.