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Barely 24 hours after the killing of 43 students at the Federal Government College in Yobe State, the military has arrested some suspects, according to The Nation.

The paper said it learnt of the arrests yesterday, quoting a source as saying that “the suspects are undergoing interrogation in a designated centre,” adding that the source refused to disclose the number of those in the net.

The source was further quoted as saying: “Normally in this kind of situation, we will need to isolate the suspects for grilling before we tell the public our findings.

“After the first round of preliminary investigation, the relevant authorities would provide details for the public.

“Besides the ongoing air and land counter-attacks from troops, the mopping up exercise in Buni Yadi was still in progress.

“The town has also been cordoned off to fish out some insurgents who might have mingled with the people of the town.”

The source, according to the report, confirmed that President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Kenneth Minimah, to move to Borno-Yobe axis to coordinate operations against the insurgents.

As the source put it: “There is going to be ‘Operation Merciless’ against the insurgents. The battle line is already drawn because the President, who is also the Commander-in-Chief, has ordered the Service Chiefs to rout out the sect.

“The Chief of Army Staff is expected to move to Maiduguri any moment from now to oversee the operation, which may involve a complete change of strategy.”

•Photo shows Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Kenneth Minimah.

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