The Defence Headquarters on Thursday gave insights into how a
Boko Haram leader and other suspected members of the sect were captured
in Niger Republic.
All the suspects are presently undergoing interrogation in an unnamed military facility.
According to a statement issued by the Director of Defence
Information, Brig.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, the breakthrough was recorded
through intelligence gathering.
He said the intention of the sect leader and those arrested was to
rearm from Niger Republic and launch deadly attacks on Nigerian
communities.
The statement said: “The plan by a band of terrorists who relocated
to Niger Republic to remobilize and rearm insurgents with the aim of
carrying out fresh terrorists attacks on some Nigerian communities has
been foiled.
“The leader of the group who had fled Nigeria when the terrorist
camps were sacked was reportedly recruiting fresh hands and training
them for renewed terrorist activities in Nigeria.
“The intention of the group is to focus its attacks on some towns around the Nigeria-Niger Republic border.”
“Intelligence operatives of the Multi-National Joint Task Force
(MNJTF) had been on the trail of the leader until he was eventually
arrested in Karanga, Niger Republic on Saturday with the cooperation of
Nigerien forces.
“His other accomplices were later picked up in other villages in Nigeria. They are currently being interrogated.
A source, who spoke in confidence, added: “Investigation revealed
that following their dislodgement from their camps in Nigeria, the Boko
Haram leader relocated to Niger Republic with his cell members.
“While in Niger Republic, they tried to regroup and recruit more
hands to be able to attack Nigerian communities. When we got
intelligence report, we contacted our Nigerien counterpart. The Boko
Haram suspects were trailed and their leader was captured.
“We succeeded in arresting other members of the cell and they were brought down to Nigeria from Niger.”
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