Two Wanted Boko Haram Kingpins Captured By Troops

                               

Troops have captured two more Boko Haram leaders – among the 100 recently declared wanted by Army chief Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai.

A sect’s factory has also been destroyed, the army announced yesterday.

Army spokesman Col. Sani Usman said troops captured a Boko Haram leader posing as a watchman while another suspect on the list was arrested in Maiduguri metropolis.

He added that troops from 154 Task Force Battalion of 29 Task Force Brigade dismantled the sect’s camp at Matali in Damboa Local Government Area, Borno State.

During the operation, some insurgents were killed and some weapons and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were recovered.

“The troops of 111 Special Forces Battalion, 7 Division Garrison, Nigerian Army, during a special raid carried out on Tuesday at Delwa general area, discovered and knocked out Boko Haram terrorists’ rocket factory at Jamrari, Borno State.

“This unprecedented development has put paid to the much-touted ability of the terrorists to fabricate rockets and their launchers using rudimentary materials.

“This has further crippled the terrorists and greatly emboldened the troops in carrying out more offensive actions against the terrorists till they are defeated.

“The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai, who is on constant communication with the troops, commended them for this singular act and other similar feats and encouraged them to do more so that the terrorists will be defeated,” he stated.

According to Usman, soldiers and policemen, in separate operations, captured two of Nigeria’s most wanted Boko Haram leaders.

“Yesterday, troops of 101 Task Force Battalion, 7 Division Garrison, along Lagos Street Maiduguri, Borno State, arrested yet another declared wanted Boko Haram terrorists leader.

“The suspect who gave his name as Abubakar Sadiq, works as night watchman to one Muhammad Daggash; a closer look at him shows that he was suspect number 28 among the suspected Boko Haram terrorists that were declared wanted by the Nigerian Army last month.

“The Nigeria Police, Borno State Command, arrested yet another suspected Boko Haram kingpin, Mohammed Usman, at Abuja Talakawa Ward of Maiduguri metropolis, Borno state yesterday.

“The suspect who matches the photograph of suspect Number 40 on the poster containing the photographs of the 100 wanted suspected Boko Haram terrorists, was arrested after painstaking effort and tracking by the police.

“There is no doubt that the arrests of the suspected terrorists are important milestones which show the synergy of effort in the fight against terrorism and insurgency in Nigeria among the security agencies and the public.

“The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai commended the vigilant troops and the Nigeria Police in particular, Borno State Command, for their great efforts.

“The Nigerian Army wishes to reiterate that as we move for the final onslaught against Boko Haram terrorists, there is the urgent need for all of us to be more vigilant and security conscious,” Usman stated.

Yesterday, top officials from Nigeria and Cameroun began another round of discussions on trans-border military operations.

At the opening ceremony of the Fourth Session of Nigeria-Cameroun Trans-Border Security Committee Meeting in Abuja, , National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj-Gen. Babagana Mongunu (rtd), Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama and the Camerounian Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, Rene Emmanuel Sadi reaffirmed the two countries’ determination towards defeating Boko Haram.

Mongunu said the Fourth Session of the meeting was timely with regard to the resolve of President Muhammadu Buhari and President Paul Biya of Cameroon, for peace and stability of the two countries, in particular and the sub-region in general.

“To put an end to the scourge of terrorist activities, the Nigerian Government recently issued a marching order to the Nigerian military to defeat the Boko Haram terrorists by the end of this year 2015.

“ It should be noted that the order is presently being carried out with military precision,” he said.

Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Onyeama, who was represented by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Hajia Khadija Bukar Abba said:”Nigeria and Cameroun remain resolute and determined to defeat Boko Haram; the terror attacks over the weekend in Paris, France draws, once again, into sharp focus the global dimension and reach of terror.

“We must remain resolute and very determined to stand with the rest of the world to defeat these evil purveyors of hate and extremism.”