7/28/2019 4 Boko-Haram Leaders Arrested & 200 SUVs Recovered

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OVER 200 vehicles, consisting mainly of Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs), have so far beenrecovered from the camps of the Boko Haram Islamic sect since the beginning of the onslaughtagainst the insurgents.

The vehicles are believed to have been stolen from their owners in various parts of the country.

The insurgents are said to have demonstrated a preference for SUVs or 4-wheel drive vehiclesas these facilitate their quick escape in the desert area.

On Friday, four members of the sect, including one believed to be very close to the Boko Haramleader, Sheikh Abubakar Shekau, were arrested by the civilian joint task force in Maiduguri, theBorno State capital.

Saturday Tribune gathered on Friday that three of the sect members were arrested at GaltimariWard, close to Giwa Barracks, and handed over to the unit along Barracks Road, while theremaining one was arrested at Kawar-Maila, in Shehuri Ward of the state.

One of the task force officials who arrested the fourth sect member on Friday told Saturday

Tribune that the suspect would be taken to one of the car wash centres near the Maiduguri zooso as to make him indentify some other members of his group and also show (the task force)where they keep their guns.

A military source who spoke to Saturday Tribune on Thursday had foreclosed an earlyrestoration of communication facili ties in parts of the North currently under state of emergency,saying there were security reports that the terrorists were making efforts to contact one another sothat they could regroup.

Also, those hoping that the state of emergency currently in place in the three northern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe will soon be lifted may also have to wait a little longer, as military

authorities have declared that they are determined to see the current anti-terrorists clampdown toits logical conclusion.

Saturday Tribune gathered from informed security sources that the detention camps are alreadyoverflowing with terrorists captured during the various raids, while the Chief of Defence Staff,

Admiral Ola Ibrahim, has set up an assessment team on the development.

The defence headquarters is bothered that the facilities in the detention camps have beenoverstretched, and has mandated the assessment team to ascertain the level of involvement of the terrorists so that those not deeply involved can be recommended to the Federal Governmentfor amnesty.

Also, it was gathered that the military task force has been given a marching order to either capture or eliminate Shekau, as it is believed that this is the only way to end insurgency in thecountry.

He recounted how a member of the sect riding a motorcycle in Borno tried to beat a checkpointbut was pursued by troops who shot at him. When the bag he was carrying was searched, arecent recording of Shekau was found in it. When the tape was played, it had the voice of Shekau, the Boko Haram leader, warning the people not to cooperate with the troops, as thosewho do so would be risking their lives.

The recording was to be posted on Youtube.

The troops also recovered various hand bills that would have been distributed to causedisaffection between the people and the troops.

7/28/2019 4 Boko-Haram Leaders Arrested & 200 SUVs Recovered

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According to the source, military authorities believe that this particular terrorist is very close toShekau and would provide useful information about his whereabouts.

Saturday Tribune gathered that various types of activities go on inside the sects camps inSambisa forest, which stretches over 16 kilometres on the outskirts of Borno and lies betweenBama and Maiduguri.

According to the source, locally fabricated rocket stands and other equipment were being

manufactured in the forest.

One of the bullion vans taken away by the terrorists when Bama prison was attacked was seen inthe forest, which the terrorists set ablaze while they were fleeing.

Also, the troops discovered a tailoring factory where the terrorists were sewing fake armyuniforms and camouflage and other materials.

Defence spokesman, Brigadier-General Chris Olukolade, said that it was not easy for theinsurgents to regroup and that this was why communication in those areas cannot be restorednow.

On the involvement of youths in hunting for the sect members, Olukolade said the youth werebeing watched and controlled, since (their involvement) is a voluntary effort, having experiencedthe ferocity of the terrorists.