Wanted 11-Year-Old Suicide Bomber Arrested in IDP Camp

11-year-old Usman Modu Tella, a potential suicide bomber whose face appeared on the 100-wanted Boko Haram suspects published by the Department of Army Public Relations in October, was reportedly arrested on Wednesday by soldiers in one of the internally displaced persons camps in Borno state. The little boy who claimed he is from Bama town was fished out among other kids at the Dalori IDP camp in Maiduguri.

According to the Leadership, the young boy who said he was in the camp to carry out a suicide attack at a future date, saidsome Boko Haram bomb experts had trained him and three other kids. He added that three of his trained colleagues had since been killed in the various suicide attacks they were sent to carry out.

According to a statement issued by Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, the child said he was sneaked into the camp as a displaced child to get familiarized with the people and wait for the day he would be prompted to carry his own suicide attack inside the camp.

The statement reads:

“Vigilant troops of 7 Division Garrison providing security at Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp, Dalori in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Borno State yesterday Tuesday afternoon apprehended an 11 year old boy, Master Usman Modu Tella a potential suicide bomber.

He is suspect number 82 on the poster containing the photographs of 100 wanted suspected Boko Haram terrorists released by the Nigerian Army. Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect was from Bama town and is  among 4 other children trained for suicide bombing by the Boko Haram terrorists. He further added that the 3 others have already carried out their missions at different locations. His job was to do same in the camp sometime in the future.

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The boy also pointed out one other Boko Haram senior member, Alhaji Kerewu Abubakar  at the camp.
It will be recalled that due to the concerted efforts of the military quite a number of towns and villages hitherto held by the Boko Haram terrorists were liberated, this brought about an unprecedented influx of IDPs to the camp which the terrorists took advantage and infiltrate in order  to wreck more havoc among the society. The case of these suspects clearly indicated this point hence the need for proper screening of all IDPs with a view to ascertain their true identity.

The apprehension of the suspects is a boost to the fight against terrorism and insurgency in that they were assisting with investigation that would lead to the arrest of more suspected terrorists in the camp and elsewhere.”