Hunger Force Members Boko Haram Into The Open

The military on Thursday arrested some suspected Boko Haram members in search of food in the forests of the northern part of Borno State.

Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, who issued the information in an electronic mail on Friday, also said some insurgents dislodged from their camps were making efforts to establish new ones.

Olukolade said the special forces were on the trail of such suspected terrorists.

He said the hungry insurgents were arrested by the special forces while searching for large quantities of food in the area.

The defence spokesman said the suspected terrorists were tracked down with the cooperation of members of the communities.

He said the suspects were driving in a Toyota Land Cruiser Jeep with registration number XA 428 ADM, suspected to have been stolen, when they were apprehended by the security forces at Daban Masara.

He said that items such as AK-47 rifles, a single-barrelled shotgun, a double-barrelled shotgun and various calibres of ammunition were recovered from the terrorists.

“The intensive cordon and search operation being conducted by the troops of the special forces received a major boost from civilian cooperation in communities close to locations being focused in the operation yesterday.

“A group of terrorists moving from village to village in search of large quantities of food was tracked and apprehended following a tip-off from civilians,” he said.

He stated also that there had been encounters between security forces and the insurgents in some parts of the state apart from the camps destroyed by the security agencies.

He said, “It is believed that some stranded terrorists are keen on establishing new camps. They are being trailed accordingly.

“There were also a few encounters with some insurgents in forest locations apart from the identified and destroyed camps.”

Olukolade added that a total of 56 insurgents were apprehended with the aid of specially trained dogs.

He said that seven packs of IEDs, two Rocket Propelled Gun chargers, a rifle magazine, two machetes, bomb detonators, camouflage and other military uniforms as well as medical equipment, charms, seven vehicles including a Jeep and eight tri-cycles were recovered from the insurgents.