Terrorism: Army warns against cluster bombs

The Defence Authorities have alerted Nigerians of the deployment of cluster bombs by the members of the Boko Haram sect in the country. The Acting Director, Defence Information, Col. Rabe Abubakar, said in a statement on Thursday that some catches of the cluster bombs were discovered by the troops in Adamawa State. Wikipedia defines a cluster bomb as ” a form of air- dropped or ground-launched explosive weapon that releases or ejects smaller submunitions.” It was stated that the cluster bombs which ejects smaller explosives are designed to kill and destroy properties. Abubakar said the Boko Haram insurgents had been found to be using cluster bombs in pursuit of their agenda in the North East. He said the small bombs were used against large areas like markets, places of worship, large contraction of troops and others. “The Defence Headquarters wishes to inform Nigerians living in the North East and any other part of the country to lookout for Cluster Bombs sometimes called scatter bombs, as the Nigerian Army Engineers serving in Adamawa State have recovered some catches of these bombs in the contested areas in recent time. “The military high command has discovered that the Boko Haram terrorists in these areas have used such lethal instruments over time to push their callous terrorist cause. For easy identification, it is important to note that cluster bombs are bombs that house submunitions, that is, smaller explosives contained in individual cases. “These bombs are used against large areas containing many targets, such as columns of vehicles, marketplaces, places of worship or large troop concentration as the case may be. “Some cluster bombs carry several hundred of very small explosives wrapped in a metal container like a pot while others carry larger submunitions that can find specific targets such as tanks. Some of these submunitions do not blow up immediately, but remain behind and act as landmines. “This can be an acceptable explanation for the recovery of catches of these bombs by Nigerian Army Engineers in the area.” He urged the members of the public to be conscious of such equipment that could be concealed in places by the terrorists to destroy lives and property in the society. He advised the members of the public to report such deadly materials if sighted to security agencies for immediate action. He said that the terrorists who had become frustrated and desperate could use anything in the pursuit of their mission He appealed to the members of the public to cooperate with the security agencies by volunteering timely information. “The general publics is hereby requested to be wary of such concealed dangerous equipment now being used by the terrorist elements to cause havoc to both innocent lives and property. “The public is also advised to report such objects/ materials if seen to security agencies for prompt action. The terrorists are desperate and frustrated and could use any cruel instrument to actualise their evil intention. “Members of the public are hereby urged to continue to cooperate with the security agencies by giving timely information to secure our great country.”