Boko Haram Confirms Members Killed in Maiduguri Blast

Nigeria's terrorist outfit Boko Haram on Sunday confirmed that three of its members were killed by their own bombs in the previous day in the northeastern city Maiduguri. Spokesperson for the group Abul Qaqa made the confirmation in a telephone conference with newsmen in Maiduguri on Sunday. "We have hundreds of members that are willing to sacrifice their lives in this crusade; the unfortunate incident of Saturday will not discourage

 us; if anything, it will encourage us to strategize and diversify our techniques because we are not afraid of death," Qaqa said. 

Nigerian troops told newsmen on Saturday that three suspected members of the group died in an early morning explosion at Shuwari in Maiduguri. 

Spokesperson for the Joint Task Force (JTF) on Operation Restore Order Lt. Col. Hassan Ifijeh told newsmen that large quantities of unused Improvised Explosive Devices, AK 47 rifles, ammunition and other vital items were recovered from the scene of the blast. 

He said three unidentified mutilated bodies of suspected Boko Haram militants suspected to be running the illegal bomb making factory were also found. 

The Boko Haram spokesman said hundreds of their members were killed in 2009, but they remain resolute. 

He claimed that his men had repelled alleged attempts by security agencies to arrest some members of the group after cordoning off a house at Karkasara area of Kano. 

He also claimed that the group set its men free by killing the security operatives. 

Meanwhile, Mallam Abubakar Shekau, the spiritual head of the group, threatened on Sunday to unleash mayhem on Kano unless urgent steps were taken by the authorities to stop the arrest of the group's members. 

Shekau said in an e-mail statement to journalists in Maiduguri that the group would launch endless attacks on Kano following arbitrary arrest and persecution of its members. 

He claimed that the group had sent open letters to some prominent people including the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, Gov. Rabiu Kwankwaso, Aminu Alhassan Dantata and Khalifa and Sheikh Isiaka Rabiu.

Shekau said the group had warned on the increasing arrest of its members but the situation had continued in spite of the complaints.