Boko Haram planning more attacks in NE Nigeria: Army

By Olarewaju Kola

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria

The Nigerian army has warned that the Boko Haram militant group is planning more attacks on soft targets – using child bombers in some cases – in populated areas of the country’s volatile northeast.

In a press statement, Col. Sani Usman, public relations director for the Nigerian army, said Boko Haram was "determined to kill more people and destroy property by all means possible."

He went on to warn that the group was prepared to use "young ones and students" for suicide operations.

“This method has been used in the northeastern Adamawa State, where two children were recently asked to drop a black polythene bag at a workshop in return for money,” said Usman.

He went on to urge young people "not to take any packages – of any kind – from anybody to dispose, keep, drop or give to anyone."

Nigeria’s northeastern region has recently witnessed increased attacks – often suicide bombings – which authorities have blamed on Boko Haram.