Why We Bombed GSM Facilities- Boko Haram

The Jama'atu Ahlis Sunnah Lidda'awati Wal Jihad, also known as Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for the series of bombings of telecommunication facilities in Borno, Yobe, Kano and Bauchi states and warned that the attacks would continue because the facilities are being used to track and arrest them.

This is coming as Mohammed Abubakar, inspector general of Police on Thursday directed all state commissioners of Police to set up special units to safeguard telecommunication installations across the country.

But as the police boss was talking, the radical Islamic sect said the attacks on communication facilities will continue unabated because the connivance of telecom firms that have led to the incarceration of its members.

A statement written in Hausa and signed by Abul-Qaqa equally threatened attacks on the facilities of the Voice of America (VOA) as well as its correspondents and staff.

It would be recalled that Boko Haram, which is waging a bloody insurgency against Christians and is seeking to carve out an Islamic state in the north struck unusual targets (offices and equipment) of telecom firms on Wednesday added another dimension to its crusade.

"Our ultimate goal is the establishment of an Islamic State in Nigeria and we would not hesitate in taking punitive measures against anybody who sabotage or assist others that are sabotaging our efforts," the group said

"This is why we are fighting the Nigerian government and its collaborators, including telecommunication companies. We would continue attacking them (telecoms) until the time they stopped releasing information about our activities.

"We have also established that through its various programmes, the VOA has launched a campaign of calumny against Islam. We have resolved to fight back by tracking and killing its employees. Any employee of the VOA that wants to remain alive must quit” it added.

Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police has ordered a 24-hour surveillance of all the installations.

Frank Mba, deputy force public relations officer said that the order,, is sequel to recent security development in some parts of the country where telecommunication equipment and installations have become targets of attacks and wanton destruction.

Mba said that "consequently, the IGP has directed all state commissioners of police to constitute a special unit in their respective commands, whose primary assignment will be to ensure the safety of telecommunication equipment and installations within their areas of jurisdiction.

"CPs are to further ensure that area commanders and DPOs in their commands replicate the constitution of such special units in their respective areas, to protect installations located within their territories. State commissioners of police are further directed to ensure that personnel of the Police Mobile Force (PMF) and Counter-Terrorism Squads in their commands are constructively involved in this crucial assignment," Mba said

Zonal Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) have also been directed to supervise the activities all such units constituted by commissioners of police, to ensure strict compliance with the directives of the IGP.

They are to constitute similar units that will assist State Commands within their zones.

AIGs and CPs are to provide dedicated lines in their respective Commands, to enable public spirited Nigerians who may have useful information, to volunteer same to the Police.