From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Nigeria Army says the chief bomb maker of Boko Haram has been killed by the bodyguard of Abubakar Shekau, the sect’s leader.
Sani Usman, Army spokesman, who disclosed this in a statement yesterday said the bomb maker was killed while attempting to run away from the camp of his colleagues.
“In what will be described as a major breakthrough in the clearance and rescue operation by the Nigerian military and to also confirm that all is not well within the Boko Haram terrorists’ camp, their chief bomb maker and a high ranking terrorist, was shot dead yesterday,” he said.
“The chief 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), coming after their chief scientist, called Abu RPG (who has been killed long ago).
“The chief bomb maker was killed by one of the body guards of the Boko Haram terrorists leader, Abubakar Shekau, as he was about to run away just like several others are doing because of the intensity of Operation Crackdown,” the statement said.
The statement added that Boko Haram also suffered a major setback after another member of the sect got “completely blinded” when he was preparing an IED.
“In a related development, one Julelebeeb who was appointed to take over is now completely blind because his two eyes were shattered by shrapnel, in the process of preparing an IED to consolidate his appointment.
“There is no doubt that this development has dealt a devastating blow on the terrorist’s capacity on IED preparation, suicide bombing and their ability to sustain their criminal acts.
“We would like to reassure the public that our troops are continuing with the clearance and rescue operations successfully in order to completely clear Boko Haram terrorists wherever they might be hiding,” the Army said.