A Boko Haram kingpin bearing a Christian name has been arrested in a market in Maiduguri, capital of Borno State in Nigeria’s troubled North-East. The suspected terrorist chief, who goes by the name of John Trankil, was nabbed yesterday at Kasuwar Shanu in Maiduguri metropolis by troops of 7 Division Garrison Nigerian Army in Operation LAFIYA DOLE,

Colonel Tukur Ismail Gusau, Media Coordinator of Operation LAFIYA DOLE, said.

Boko Haram claims to be fighting to introduce Islamic rule in multi-religious Nigeria, thus making Mr. John Trankil’s ranking membership a curious development. Nigerian authorities have consistently said there is nothing Islamic about the group’s terrorist campaign, which has brought monumental suffering to Nigeria and neighbouring countries since 2009.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect said that nine of them were sneaked into Maiduguri armed with AK 47 assault rifle each and a Hilux vehicle laden with 20 Improvised Explosive Devices meant to be detonated at some selected targets in the city,” Col. Gusau said this afternoon in a statement issued in Maiduguri.

“The Theatre Commander operation LAFIYA DOLE, Major General Yusha'u Mahmood Abubakar, commended the efforts of the troops and renewed call for the troops and the public to be more vigilant and security conscious particularly at all check points, markets, worship centres, motor parks and schools,” the statemen said.

Continuing, Col. Gusau said: “In a related development, troops of 21 Brigade Nigerian Army, while on offensive operations on Boko Haram terrorists location, with the support from the Nigerian Airforce discovered and destroyed the terrorists’ Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and Rocket making factory along Bama-Gonin Kurmi within the outskirts of Bama town, Borno State.

“The items recovered include gas cylinders, welding machine, pipes and poles. Others include locally made rocket shells, large quantity of assorted chemicals, unprimed IEDs and various technical and laboratory equipment suspected to be stolen from schools' laboratories around Bama before they were dislodged from the area.”

•Nigerian Army Photo shows Boko Haram bomb-making equipment.