Jutha Gupah, Maiduguri
The Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj-Gen. Rogers Nicholas has yesterday announced that N5 million will be rewarded to informants on where explosives factories are located in insurgency affected states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe. Twenty five suspected suicide bombers have already been arrested in Maiduguri metropolis, Konduga, Bama in Borno state and Madagali, Adamawa state. Nicholas disclosed this on Thursday at a news conference held at the Theatre Military Command and Control Centre, Maiduguri. He said that with the incessant suicide bomb attacks in Borno state, there are likelihoods of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) factories in any of the cities and towns of Northeast region. Even though Borno state is the epicentre of Boko Haram insurgency, the region comprises Adamawa, Bauchi, Taraba, Gombe and Yobe states. According to him, the military and other security agencies in the Northeast are doing their best to protect people’s lives and property. “In the last six months, when I assumed office at the Theatre Command, one million people were rescued by the Army,” he said. He further disclosed that with improved security in Borno state, four main roads have been cleared for motorists to ply without any escort. He however noted that the 54-kilometre Dikwa-Gambouru/Ngala border road is yet to be cleared by troops. He said that residents of liberated communities should also take over and participate in securing their lives and property, while the military continue to rid Boko Haram terrorists from the nation’s territories. According to him; “To sustain peace in liberated communities of Borno state, the returning IDPs along with local authorities develop their security apparatus. “These also include the Neighbourhood Watch in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) and Jere council areas of the state.”
