TROOPS ARREST WANTED BOKO HARAM TERRORIST

In continuation of Operation

CRACKDOWN deep inside Sambisa forest,

troops have arrested one of the declared

wanted Boko Haram terrorists leaders,

and also conducted patrols and clearance

operations within the theatre of

operations.

At about 1.35pm yesterday troops of 143

Battalion arrested one Sulaiman Umaru, a

suspected Boko Haram terrorists group

member whose photograph is on the

poster containing the photographs of the

100 Boko Haram terrorists declared

wanted. He has since been moved to 28

Task Force Brigade Headquarters for

further investigation.

Troops of 21 Brigade have continued with

the clearance operations at Yerimari,

while troops of 22 Task Force Brigade

Garrison have also embarked on patrols

along Dikwa–Mafa-Maiduguri road. The

patrol was aimed at picketing the road to

keep it safe and open.

Similarly, the same unit in conjunction

with some elements of 112 Task Force

Battalion conducted a fighting patrol

along Dikwa-Gulumba Gana road. The

team had a fierce fire fight with some

Boko Haram terrorists elements in which

the troops killed quite a number of the

Boko Haram terrorists.

Unfortunately, while on their way back,

the team ran into an Improvised

Explosive Device (IED) at Antul, a village

south east of Dikwa, in which 7 soldiers

and 4 Civilian JTF accompanying them

sustained injuries. The injured soldiers

and their civilian counterparts have been

evacuated to 7 Division Hospital and

Medical Services Maiduguri.

However, the patrol killed 2 Boko Haram

terrorists and recovered 2 AK-47 rifles

from them.

The patrol team had earlier intercepted

31 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs),

including women and children coming

from Sunabaya, Gumule, Garno and

Mane-Gana villages.

During preliminary investigations along

with the vigilantes, one of the IDPs,

Abacha Bulama, a native of Mane-Gana

village, was found to be in possession of

the sum of One Million, Nine Hundred

Thousand Naira (N1,900,000.00k).

Although he claimed to be a businessman,

his possession of such large amount of

money arose suspicion.

While Bulama has been detained for

further investigation, other IDPs have

been handed over to Dikwa IDP Camp

Manager for screening and further

humanitarian assistance.

On their part, troops of 254 Task Force

Battalion, 25 Task Force Brigade have

moved to Ngalimeri and shelled Boko

Haram terrorists hideouts at Budumairi,

Goneri Baleni, Mallam Maitari, Malemiri

and Gombori. Although there were no

signs of the Boko Haram in the area as

they have all fled, however, 35 persons

were rescued, screened and rehabilitated

at Damboa IDP camp. The troops also

arrested 2 suspected Boko Haram

terrorists with Dane Guns.

In a related development, troops of 192

Battalion, 26 Task Force Brigade also

carried out clearance operations at Guduf

Buba, Yagwa, Gamude, Kwatara Kasa and

Kwatara Tsakiya villages. It was observed

that at Kwatara Tsakiya, the terrorists

have neatly removed the roofing of the

dispensary and other buildings possibly to

cart away later.

Apart of the formations and units

mentioned above, quite a number of

them have maintained blocking positions

to prevent Boko Haram terrorists

escaping from Operation CRACKDOWN

and aerial bombardment by the Nigerian

Air Force, while other troops carry out

raids, cordon and searches in suspected

Boko Haram terrorists hideouts.

Due to increased security, the theatre is

witnessing increased humanitarian

activities by various government and non-

governmental agencies.

Thank you for your kind cooperation.

Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman

Acting Director Army Public Relations