Nigerian Military Discovers Heavy Weapons Factory in Kano

Boko Haram insurgents

The “discovery follows the arrest of a prominent member of the terrorist group (Boko Haram).”
The Nigerian military said it has discovered a factory for producing heavy weapons for terrorists in Kano.
The Director of Defence Information, Chris Olukolade, in a statement said a cordon and search exercise “led to the discovery of Rocket Launcher production facility at Dorayi District in Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State.”
He said the “discovery follows the arrest of a prominent member of the terrorist group (Boko Haram).
The spokesperson said locally made anti-aircraft gun and mortar accessories as well as rocket propelled grenade tubes and launcher along with accessories were recovered.
“Also seized were three AK47 rifles and hundreds of rounds of assorted ammunitions as well as drilling machines and other fabricating equipment,” he said.
Mr. Olukolade, a Major General, advised the public to report suspicious persons to security agencies in their localities to prevent unwholesome act by terrorists.
The spokesperson also said that the report of a “second mutiny” at Maimalari Barracks in Borno.
“What the online outlet garnished and dubbed as ‘mutiny’ was just a presentation of complaints by representatives of personnel families who wanted the ban on motorcycles as a means of public transportation in the barracks reversed.
“Soldiers were not involved and there was no single shot fired by soldiers throughout the period as claimed in the report.”
The report had said the soldiers protested the ban on commercial motorcycles (okada), the only means of transport for junior soldiers and their families on the barracks, by molesting the barrack commander.
Mr. Olukolade confirmed the ban saying it “was part of security measures put in place for the safety of the soldiers and their families.”
“The Acting General Officer Commanding obliged their request and directed a suspension of the ban pending when the planned alternative transportation arrangement is put in place.  He was not insulted or manhandled as reported,” he said.
The spokesperson said “mutiny is a very grievous breach that attracts severe sanctions in the military and should not be trivialized by those who do not understand its ramifications.”
“The general public is therefore requested to discountenance the rumours as no such incident took place.    The mass media is again requested to beware of lifting stories on the military from online media as this has become the main channel of disseminating falsehood on happenings in the system,” he said.