Troops of 151 Task Force Battalion and 7 Division Garrison of the Nigerian Army have arrested 16 terrorists with the rescue of 12 children in the Banki/Miyanti/Darajamal axis of Borno State. The arrests were made, while an ambush was laid at the Banki crossing point in Bama Local Government Area. Army Spokesman, Brig-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu in a statement yesterday in Maiduguri, disclosed: “The ambush was to prevent movement of terrorists’ logistics and replenishment, before neutralising three of them,” adding that; while others escaped with gunshot wounds towards Sambisa Forest.
He said that troops in the 21 Special Brigade area of responsibility arrested the suspected members of Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) who surrendered to the military along with their family members. He noted that the arrested terrorists were fleeing following the continuous ground and aerial bombardments of their hideouts in the forest. “They were arrested along with their family members on the outskirts of Aza and Bula Daloye villages in Bama Council,” he said
According to him, the arrested suspects comprised of 11 male adult terrorists, five female adults and twelve children. Of the recovered arms and ammunition, he said: “27 rounds of ammunition, three AK-47 rifle magazines and a black fragmental Jacket were recovered from the suspects,” adding that the suspects are currently undergoing preliminary investigations. In the July 17, 2021 a separate operation troops of 7 Division Garrison in conjunction with Civilian Joint Task Force tracked and arrested Boko Haram informants and logistic suppliers.
He said that the arrests were made during a cordon and search operations in Lawanti and Gongulong communities of Jere Council.
During preliminary investigations, the suspects confessed to have been working as informants for the terrorists. He added that the arrested persons allegedly provide information on troops’ movements, locations, deployments, including the strength and calibre of weapons used in the ongoing counter-insurgency operations.
He said that they also admitted to having supplied the terrorists with basic logistics for their daily survival. Other supplies made, according to Nwachukwu, include fuel and lubricants, drugs, mosquito nets, kola nuts, recharge cards and food items. The suspects also confessed that they were remunerated by the terrorists with proceeds made from selling dismantled old motorcycle parts to dealers in order to fund their purchases.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Farouk Yahaya has commended the proactive of the troops in the ongoing clearance operations in the forest and Lake Chad region. He charged them to maintain the tempo and ensure the terrorists are smoked out of their enclaves.
