BRIG-GEN Mamman Shuwa (rtd), one time military governor of defunct North Central, was assassinated Friday morning at his Gwange ward residence of Maiduguri in Borno State.
Following the incident, all the military posts and other checkpoints in the metropolis were closed to motorists and tricycles for four hours. The closure of roads, according to JTF sources, was to prevent the suspected assassins from fleeing the metropolis.
The closure of military posts and checkpoints commenced by 10am and re-opened by 1.30pm for the Jumat prayers in mosques.
The military Joint Task Force (JTF) in Maiduguri went further to alert top government officials, civil servants and politicians on possible attacks and killings targeted at them by suspected Boko Haram terrorists, following intelligence reports of security agencies in the state.
The warnings by the security task force came barely four hours after the Boko Haram sect announced readiness to dialogue with the Federal Government in Saudi Arabia with the conditions of compensations, release of its members and rebuilding of the destroyed places of worship.
Spokesman of JTF, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, in a press statement made available to newsmen in Maiduguri said: "Information available to the JTF Operation Restore Order indicates that Boko Haram terrorists are plotting to attack government officials, civil servants, politicians and other law abiding citizens in Borno State."
He also warned: "JTF wishes to alert members of the public on the latest plot and advise these categories of Nigerians to be aware of people within their environment and restrict their movements, particularly during the night hours."
Members of the public, according the statement, are therefore reminded to report any suspicious movement, persons or groups to the military security task force through the following telephone numbers – 08064174066, 07085464012, and 08154429346-for further intervention and action.
Shuwa, 79, was a top adviser to Yakubu Gowon during the 1967-70 Biafra civil war that left more than one million dead, including many from starvation.
He also served as a senior leader in the 1975-76 junta of Murtala Mohammed.
The full statement by Lt.Col. Sagir Musa announcing the assassination of Shuwa:
"At about 12 noon today at General Muhammadu Shuwa (Rtd) house in Gwange 1 area of Maiduguri metropolis, while the General was seated in his house with some guests, four men initially thought to be his visitors and guests for the Juma,at prayers entered his house and opened fire on the General and his guests. One of the guests died on the spot while the general died on the way to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. The JTF troops located in the area immediately cordoned off the area and search for the assailants is ongoing to apprehend the terrorists. The terrorists that carried out the killing of the late General will be brought to book. We call on the citizens to bring forward information that will assist the security agencies to apprehend the terrorists.
In an interview with the French news agency at his home in May, Shuwa said that he could potentially be targetted by Boko Haram elements who have carried out scores of attacks in the city, which is considered their home base.
In late June, Shuwa also attended a meeting summoned by the National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki, to try to find a peaceful resolution to the Boko Haram nightmare.
It was not clear who killed the general, but agency reports said the shooting resembled those previously carried out by the Boko Haram elements who have repeatedly targetted prominent local figures.
