The Department of State Services, DSS, has denied social media reports claiming Boko Haram has stormed the Middle Belt including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, or heading for the South to wreak havoc, the Punch reports.
The DSS said the “alleged hijack of the luxury buses belonging to three major transport companies on the Lokoja-Okene Road” by criminals was fake news.
Peter Afunanya, the spokesman for the agency, said in a statement on Friday, February 7, 2020, that the reports had been in circulation since 2013, adding they were making efforts to apprehend those behind the reports.
He said, “Another misleading report relates to the alleged hijack of luxury buses of three major transport companies on the Lokoja-Okene Road by persons suspected to be championing an ethnic agenda.
“The alert purportedly issued by the DSS on the arrival of Boko Haram and other terrorist elements to the aforementioned places has been in circulation since 2013 when it was first created by mischief-makers whose handiwork is to cause chaos.
“The public is urged to disregard these fallacious narratives and reports in their entirety.
“Considering that security is a collective responsibility of all and sundry, everyone is advised to report suspicious persons to the relevant security agencies.
“We will continue to ensure adequate protection for the people, government and critical infrastructure. We will also not fail to make defaulters face the consequences of their illicit activities.”
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force has bombed some Boko Haram locations in Kaza, Borno State.
The attack was carried out in continuation of the NAF’s North-East Operation Rattle Snake 3.
The NAF said on Friday the locations were attacked by the Air Task Force’s fighter jets after confirmatory Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions showed a significant presence of the terrorists.
“This resulted in the destruction of the structures and the neutralisation of some of the fighters,” NAF director of public relations and information, Ibikunle Daramola, said.
