FG Issues Security Alert Over Boko Haram Kidnapping

The Federal Government warned on Friday that Boko Haram terrorists are plotting another sensational abduction of students or foreigners to hold them ransom for money, food, medical supplies, and armaments.
In a statement issued in Abuja, the Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed, said the planned abduction is in line with the terrorists' new modus operandi of focusing on soft targets. It will be recalled that President Buhari made defeating Boko Haram one of his administration’s top priorities, even issuing a three month deadline for their total defeat.

Despite the Federal Government’s proposals and the relocation of the military headquarters to Maiduguri, Borno State Boko Haram continues to kill civilians and threaten peace in Nigeria.

Mr. Mohammed said Boko Haram are now concentrating their attacks on soft targets, like motor parks, schools and entertainment centers.

''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,” Mr. Mohammed said.

Information obtained by the government has led officials to concern that Boko Haram is plotting to repeat a similar abduction, ''this is why we have decided to issue this alert to enable the authorities of both public primary and secondary schools in remote locations, particular in the Northern states, to upgrade security arrangements,”