JTF kills Boko Haram commander

A key member of the Boko Haram sect and commander, one Mohammed Chad, was yesterday killed by security forces during a special operation to arrest him within Maiduguri metropolis. Mohammed Chad, according to a statement by JTF spokesman, Lieutenant Sagir Musa, has been on the wanted list of the task force and was believed to be involved in many serial killings and attacks, including the one on public schools in Maiduguri where three teachers were killed. “He has been on the wanted list of the JTF.

Intelligence showed he was involved in planning/execution of many terror attacks in and outside Borno State. For instance, he masterminded the attack on Sanda Karami Secondary School at Ruwan Zafi, where they killed a teacher and injured three female students on March 18, 2013,” the statement said. It said “a special operation was conducted at Ruwan-Zafi area of Maiduguri metropolis by troops of the JTF Operation ‘Restore Order’ and Operatives of the Department of State Security at 3am on Friday.

Sagir also disclosed that the operation, which snowballed into an exchange of fire between the JTF and the sect commander with his aides, also led to the death of Mohammed Chad. He said the late Chad was “a notorious Boko Haram terrorist” and “indigene of Marte in Borno State that has been on the wanted list of JTF.” “He is believed to be the successor to Ba’ana Assalafi, a key Boko Haram commander killed during a shoot-out with security agencies in Sokoto on March 13, 2013,” Lt Col. Musa added.