Nigeria military says Boko Haram sect commanders killed

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Two commanders of the Boko Haram sect were killed in an operation by the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Maiduguri, capital of the restive state of Borno in northeastern Nigeria, the military said Thursday.

Spokesperson of the JTF Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa told reporters that the commanders of the sect were killed along Maiduguri-Kano road as they tried to escape.

"They were top commanders coordinating activities of the sect in Mubi and Yola in northeastern states of Yobe and Adamawa," he said, adding the duo were trailed by a combined team of security operatives for many hours before they attempted to escape.

According to Musa, the suspects were on their way to Damaturu, capital of Yobe State, for a planned "special operation" to attack civilians and military locations.

"Intelligence reports indicated they were also planning to conduct an attack on Maiduguri soon," he explained.

The military spokesperson said a number of items including weapons and a Honda salon car were recovered from the operation, adding the JTF had also arrested eight suspected members of the group in an earlier operation in the Maiduguri metropolis.

"Those arrested were confirmed to have found their way to Maiduguri from neighboring states," he said. Enditem

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