By Sani Wilson Enemona

Taraba State Police Command announced on Thursday that it had arrested a Boko Haram suspect, identified as Usman Bala, over the bomb explosion that occurred at a drinking spot at Iware Cattle Market, Nukkai, Jalingo the Taraba State capital.

The state Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Sokoya, disclosed the arrest of the suspect during a press briefing at the command’s headquarters in Jalingo

According to Sokoya , “The suspect had attempted to kill one Usman Yaki of Gunduma village and the police were alerted, in collaboration with vigilantes, he was subdued and arrested.

“In the course of our investigation, the suspect confessed to being a member of the Boko Haram sect operating in Niger, Kogi, and now Taraba State.

“We recovered 198 pieces of 7.6mm live ammunition, 558 assault live ammunition, one pistol breech CZ 999 scorpion with six rounds of live ammunition, and 20 plastic bottles of sodium azide acid from him.

“Other items recovered from the suspect included eight plastic bottles of Kermi acid, 27 bottles of locally-made bombs, and lighters, among others.”

The police spokesperson said efforts were on to arrest the suspect’s gang members, identified as Abubakar Lawal and Abdullahi Garba.

In an interview with reporters the suspect stated that eight of his members were still at large and confessed to have carried out attacks in parts of the state.

Usman, an indigene of Kebbi State, told reporters that some of his gang members were from Yobe State.