Boko Haram piled on the pressure with impunity on Monday, killing another four persons and carting off N21.5 million workers' salary in Borno, after its rampage between Saturday and Sunday, in which 12 persons, including a Council Chairman, were murdered and 14 injured.

The disclosure in Abuja by the State Security Service (SSS) that it detected and demobilised 12 bombs in Kaduna in May and June counts for nothing against the arsenal of the fundamentalist Islamic jihadists, who mounted another deadly explosion in Maiduguri on Sunday.

Eight persons were killed and 13 injured in that attack on Sunday, 24 hours before SSS Assistant Director (Public Affairs), Marilyn Ogar, announced the detection of bombs and the arrest of over 100 insurgents in the states of Bauchi, Kaduna, Kano, Yobe, Borno, and Adamawa.

Ogar told a press conference that the SSS arrested "key cell commanders and members of dissident groups" but they will not be prosecuted because of the "carrot and stick" approach adopted by President Goodluck Jonathan in dealing with Boko Haram.

But that runs counter to the disclosure on Sunday by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Onyeabo Ihejirika, who said anyone caught with explosives will be prosecuted under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

According to Ogar, the SSS demobilised 12 bombs across Kaduna State in May and June:

* - Eight concealed in tins beneath a staircase in Kafanchan on May 23.
* -One in Gonin on May 29.
* - One in a sack under a kerosene tank on LD Abubakar Road off Kaduna-Abuja Expressway by Central Market in Gonin Gora on June 10.
* - One wired to a nine-volt battery under the railway track, behind Dambo International College, Barnawa on June 14.

She added that, "On June 27, information received from patriotic members of the public assisted in the recovery of some components of yet to be assembled explosives. The items include a camping gas cylinder with a pin, detonating cables, a bottle of distilled water, pliers, masking tape, and clips.

"These were found in a hotel, and meant to be used to bomb a shopping mall in Kaduna."

Ogar said the names of those arrested will not be disclosed and they will not be prosecuted because Jonathan has reiterated his plan to give the insurgents a second chance to change their ways.

"They are still undergoing the process of de-radicalisation, perception management, and we are also trying to win their confidence back with the society."

She admitted that stopping militancy is not an easy task, and solicited the help of Nigerians, saying, "The successes recorded so far can be credited to the patriotism of some concerned members of the public."

It was also confirmed on Monday that former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nasir el-Rufai, visited the SSS headquarters in Abuja as ordered.

A statement issued by his media consultant, Muyiwa Adekeye, said he reported at 9 a.m. following his arrest and release on Saturday.

El-Rufai had a chat with the SSS Director General, Ita Ekpenyong, then returned home.

He was accompanied by his lawyer, A. Mustapha, and ThisDay publisher, Nduka Obaigbena.

He thanked Nigerians for their support and kind words over his arrest, based on an article he published, and said he would continue to play a robust role in promoting informed discourse and democracy.

In the meantime however, Boko Haram is unrelenting in its attacks, which now include robbery.

On Monday morning, those suspected to be the sect's members killed a policeman, a former Council Chairman, and two employees of Shani Council in Borno, and zoomed off with N21.5 million meant to pay the workers.

Two persons wounded with bullets are in hospital.

Police Public Relations Officer, Lawal Abdullahi, confirmed the killings and the robbery.

He said: "Yes, I am aware of the incidents but you guys have to be patient with me for now because I am on my way to Abuja on an official assignment."

Shani Council Caretaker Chairman, Modu Walama, explained that the gunmen lay in ambush between Marama and Bulatawiwi villages and opened fire on the council staff conveying the money.

"The armed robbers drove in a white Toyota starlet car, overtook them from nowhere and opened fire on six of them.

"They killed four, including a former council caretaker Chairman popularly called Ori, a police escort, and two other local government personnel.

"We have just returned from the burial of some of them. The two other ones who were lucky to escape death are now in hospital."

In his reaction, former Ambassador George Obiozor warned that, "the spate of insecurity in Nigeria is getting out of hand and I expect the government to take a firm decision on the Boko Haram menace.

"It must contain this sect because no country develops in a state of insecurity. It is the challenge of leadership and I hope (Jonathan) will rise up to this security challenge."

Obiozor said the security agencies ought to be conscious of the smallest security detail.

"What is happening now poses great danger to the peace and development of this country and must be handled with great tact. Development will be stalled and investments will suffer if this dastardly act is not contained."

Pahek Security Service Chief Executive Officer, Patrick Keku, advocated the use of force to flush out Boko Haram.

He blamed the council areas where the sect first operated for inability to pass information to the security agencies on their locations.

He insisted that the sect members live among the people and are not invincible.

Ketu noted that if the people are not willing to co-operate, it becomes more difficult to detect the criminals.

He said the functions of council Chairmen include grassroots development and gathering security information, and criticised the upper tiers of government for not involving councils in fighting crime.

Jere Council Chairman in Borno State, Mustapaha Ba'ale, was on Sunday shot dead in his home by Boko Haram members, after they had killed three others and wounded a former soldier on Saturday.

The sect murdered another eight persons and injured 13 at Wulari Mammy Market, Maiduguri.

Ba'ale, appointed Caretaker Committee Chairman by Governor Kashim Shettima two weeks ago, was attacked in Madinatu, in old Maiduguri at about 4 p.m.

He was a former state lawmaker, and had also contested the House of Representatives election on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

On Saturday, Boko Haram killed three persons and wounded a former soldier in Bulabuli-Ngaranaram, a suburb of Maiduguri.

The gunmen muffled their guns with pillows to block cracking sounds that would have attract the security operatives on patrol.

The attacks took place between 11 p.m. and midnight, during which three Boko Haram members scaled fences to kill non-Muslim residents.