The Nigerian Army says it has arrested a Boko Haram kingpin, Bulama Modu, alongside 42 other suspected members of the sect in Jangurori and Bulatori villages.

Arms, ammunitions, bows and arrows were said to have been recovered from Modu, who also confessed that he was given a horse to facilitate his attacks.

Another suspect, Aji Gambo, arrested at Wudla village, revealed that the attacks on Kirawa and Kolofata in northern Cameroon were carried out by Boko Haram members from Dara Jamel village in Nigeria, a neighbouring village near the Cameroonian border. According to Gambo, the group had an improvised explosive device, IED, making factory in the village.

In a statement by army spokesperson, Sani Usman, Gambo gave further information about the attackers on the Cameroonian villages.

“He further stated that the suicide bombers and the IED were prepared by Abdulrahaman Alkali Isa, Ba’ana Hisuba and Alkali Isa Karami, natives of Dara Jamel. He however added that the perpetrators have fled to Sumbulum village,” Usman said.

He added that one of the 43 initial suspects arrested, Mohammed Modu, took troops to where he buried his AK-47 rifle at Jangurori village.

The army spokesman added that 241 women and children were rescued during the operation.