Haul of Boko-Haram's Arsenal Seized by Nigerian Forces After Gun Battle During Presidential State Visit

Islamic extremist sect Boko Haram have been threatening fire and bream-stone in the days leading to President Jonathan's Visit to the Northern state of Maiduguri and actually went ahead with their threat, if not for the excellent combined effort of security agencies and a brilliant intelligence gathering that halted every attempt from the sect.
In what was a test of the Presidents ability to lead in the face of danger, he visited the state and barely 2 hours into his visit, loud explosion could be heard around where the president was visiting.

Joint Task Force spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa later put all fears at easy with a briefing that, it was actually a gun battle between members of the JTF and Boko Haram. This battle lasted for over an hour and lead to an unprecedented arms seizure.

He said the JTF traced the Boko Haram men to a big compound around Baya n’Quarters-Jajeri and Bulabulin . The Boko Haram enclave was located at Baya n’Quarters until the 2009 uprising, when it was demolished by the government. “There was no bomb explosion as many people had thought. Rather, it was sound from heavy arms like browning machine guns,” the JTF spokesman explained during the briefing held after showing journalists the arms and vehicles recovered at the house where the confrontation took place.

He said there were no women or children in the compound where the JTF engaged the suspected Boko Haram members. Speaking further, Lt Col Musa said: “Based on information and intelligence report, series of operations were conducted by the Joint Task Force Operation Restore Order in the last 10 days in Borno State. The latest was the one conducted at Bulabulin Bayern Quarters and Jajeri in Maiduguri metropolis between 3pm and 8 pm Friday, February 8, 2013. During these operations, there was exchange of fire that led to the death of 52 Boko Haram terrorists including 10 commanders of the sect.

70 terrorists were also arrested. In the period under review, the JTF lost two personnel, three were wounded and no civilian casualty was recorded.” When asked to clarify the casualty figure, he explained that 20 Boko Haram were killed by JTF during exchange of fire last Friday, adding that 32 others died in the last 10 days in other operations. Some of the arms recovered according to the JTF and displayed to journalists include three anti-aircraft guns, 10 rocket propelled grenade tubes, three general purpose machine guns (GPMG), 17 AK-47 rifles, three G3 rifles, one pistol (Lama), 20 RPG bombs, 12 RPG chargers, 1x 36 hand-held grenades, one teargas rifle,

33 AK-47 magazines, 11 FN magazines, three G3 magazines, 11,068 assorted ammunition. Others include two new Toyota Hilux vehicles with mounted anti-aircraft stands, one box of weapons cleaning kit, four swords and two knifes, five walkie-talkies, four VHF hand-held sets, one Multilinks router as well as assorted uniforms and kits.