The Nigerian Army has said that it has arrested the man behind the gun and bomb attacks in Jos and Zaria, which killed more than 70 people, with scores injured.

In a statement by army spokesperson, Sani Kukasheka, a colonel, the suspect was arrested with two of his accomplices at a checkpoint in Gombe state as they tried to escape in a lorry.

“Security cordon was established in the general areas especially along Bauchi, Gombe and the North Eastern part of the country by troops of 3 Division and Special Task Force, as well as the Department of State Services,” Kukasheka said. “This culminated in the successful arrest of the mastermind of the heinous terrorist acts and two of his accomplices at a checkpoint in Dadin Kowa, Gombe State. The terrorist kingpin and his colleagues who disguised in a trailer while trying to evade checks were fished out by troops of Nigerian Army.”

The spokesperson said the suspects are being processed before they will be made to “face the full wrath of the law,” and advised the public to be more vigilant and report suspicious persons, activities or objects to security operatives.

No further details were provided about the suspects links to the two bombing incidents in PLateau and Kaduna states.

Suspected Boko Haram members carried out a double attack on Jos, Plateau state capital, when worshipers at Ýan Taya mosque, Dillimi Street, off Bauchi Road, and customers at Shagalinku Restaurant, along Bauchi Road, were attacked with bomb and guns.

The next day, Monday, a bomb explosion at Zabon Gari local government secretariat in Zaria killed 26 people, including a two-year child, with more than 30 others injured.