Nigerian Army ‘arrests Boko Haram food suppliers’

Nigerian troops have arrested 33 suspected food suppliers to the Boko Haram terrorists in Damboa axis around Azir-Wajiroko road, Borno State, the army said Wednesday.

The 33 suspected Boko Haram accomplices were arrested with large quantity of food stuffs meant for Boko Haram terrorists at Korode, the army said in a statement.

“Nine of the 33 suspects are from Korode, 5 from Auma, 10 from Geargube, 4 from Kausautaya, 4 from Bulbul and 1 from Dolomi villages.

“Although some of the suspects claimed to be traders, they did not however deny buying and selling food items to the terrorists. Interrogation is still ongoing to further unravel the level of involvement of the suspects,” the military said in the statement signed by spokesperson Sani Usman.

In a related development, the army said troops discovered and successfully destroyed Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted by Boko Haram terrorists at Sandia village along Korode road.

“Furthermore, more men, women and children were rescued from the terrorists at Buduwa area along Bama axis. The rescued persons were part of those abducted by Boko Haram terrorists at Buduwa general area in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State which was earlier occupied by the terrorists.

Meanwhile, the Centre for Crisis Communication has welcomed the pronouncement by President Muhammadu Buhari that some members of the Boko Haram terrorist group are in negotiation with the Federal Government over the possibility of releasing the Chibok Secondary School girls abducted on April 14, 2014.

“We recall that while briefing the press on August 4, 2015, the Executive Secretary of CCC, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas (retired) had disclosed that some Boko Haram elements approached the Centre for dialogue as a way of ending the seeming intractable insurgency in parts of the country,” the group said in a statement signed by its secretary, Yusuf Anas.

The group said there was nothing wrong in exploring and exploiting every opportunity that would lead to freeing those imprisoned by Boko Haram.