The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division, Nigerian Army,
Brig-Gen. Abdul Ibrahim has warned marketers against trading with Boko
Haram insurgents.
The decade long insurgency; has also claimed 36,000 lives with
torching of $9.2 billion worth of property in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe
states.
Ibrahim gave the warning at the weekend, while embarking on streets’
cleanup exercise; along Baga road, Maiduguri to mark 2020 Nigerian
Army Day Celebration (NADCEL).
“Traders at Baga Fish market and others in Borno state; are to desist
from buying and selling of food items to Boko Haram insurgents,” he
warned.
He said Borno marketers should desist from selling or buying foodstuff
to or from insurgents.
While lamenting Boko Haram incessant attacks, he said: “We have been
fighting Boko Haram with much more successes; but along the line, we
found out that some unpatriotic elements in society are supporting
insurgents by supplying foodstuffs to them.
According to him; “I’ve just warn traders of Baga road market that
they should desist. Anybody found wanting will face wrath of law.”
He therefore; urged marketers to always assist the military with
useful information that will lead to arrest of suspected insurgents.
He noted that the insurgents usually come to the markets to buy or
sell food items to Boko Haram members.
He said traders should inform Civilian JTF (CJTF) whenever they see
the insurgents or their collaborators.
“We should all join hands to end this over decade long insurgency,” he
said, adding that the cleanup exercise, is none kinetic method of
counter-insurgency to promote civilian/military relations.
He commended the residents for turning out to participate in the
sanitation exercise; urging that they continue to work with military
for a better society.
