Troops find bomb-making items in restive Zaria

KADUNA (AFP) – Troops have recovered explosives and bomb-making items from a Boko Haram base in restive Zaria and arrested a suspect, the military said Friday.
“During the operation, a two-bedroom bungalow of bomb-making factory was discovered in which Improvised Explosive Devices in stage one state of readiness and several IED-making components were recovered,” the military said in a statement.
It said bomb-making items found in the building at the Jushin Ciki neighbourhood in Zaria on Thursday included 17 sensor mechanical timers (remote contro), 11 primed suicide bombers vest, 36 primed IEDs in cans and one military kitbag.
Others were a hammer, cellotapes and gums, two gallons of paint containing prepared IEDs, two gallons of turkey oil brand with prepared IEDs, seven rolls of wires of various lengths, one bag containing several sensors and 25 volt batteries, it said.
The military said they arrested a suspect and destroyed the building.
“A sixty-year-old man Umaru Mohammed was arrested within the premises and in line with resolve to deter terrorists, the building housing the factory was demolished,” it added.
Kaduna state where Zaria is located, has been hit by numerous attacks blamed on Boko Haram in recent months, prompting frequent military crackdown on hideouts of of extremist group.
Violence linked to the Boko Haram insurgency in northern and central Nigeria is believed to have left some 3,000 people dead since 2009, including killings by the security forces.