As part of the ongoing crackdown on Boko Haram insurgents, the Defence Headquarters on Monday confirmed the arrest of the in-laws of the leader of the sect, Imam Abubakar Shekau.
The Defence Spokesman, Brig. Gen Chris
Olukolade, made this known during a press briefing by the Joint
Security Services Public Information Committee in Abuja on Monday.
Olukolade however did not give the names
of Shekau’s in-laws, whom he said were arrested during a cordon and
search operation in Bulabulin area of Maiduguri last week.
Apart from more corpses found in a
soak-away in the area, underground tunnels and bunkers as well as high
calibre weapons were discovered by the operatives.
He said, “Troops on cordon and search
operations in Bulabulin area in Maiduguri last week discovered a vast
network of underground tunnels connecting houses and many bunkers some
which have the capacity to accommodate over 100 persons.
“More corpses were also discovered in a
soak-away. Various weapons were found in the same area. Abubakar
Shekau’s in-laws were picked up in the raid in which various audio
recordings of terrorists messages were also discovered.
“Recovery is made almost on a daily
basis as the operation progresses. The recovery, among others,
includes eight AK47 assault rifles, one G-3 rifle, nine AK-47
magazines, one Rocket Propelled Grenade charger, and five Rocket
Propelled Grenade.
“Three FMC magazine, one G3 magazine,
14 IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) and 166 rounds of 7.62mm
Special had also been recovered. Others are, three 35mm Bazooka; 34
rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, 1,740 rounds of 303 inch, 10 rounds of 7.62
NATO, one round of .50mm, one dane gun, one locally-made pistol and
two megaphones.”
He stated also that one of the top commanders of Boko Haram believed to be the Amir of Bulabulin Nganaram, was killed in one of the raids in Bulabulin, Nganaram, Aljajeri and Faluja areas of Maiduguri.
Olukolade added that the reduction
in the spate of bombings in places outside the North- East indicated
clearly that security operatives were winning the war against terrorism
in spite of the attacks by the sect on soft targets.
He explained that the improved security
situation was responsible for the decision to ensure a phased
restoration of telecommunications services in states under emergency
rule starting with Adamawa.
Olukolade pointed out that the cordon
and search operations were largely successful due to the cooperation
of indigenes of the area and special dogs used to aid the efforts.
He said, “A number of terrorists have
been apprehended by the Special Forces. Many of them have also died in
battle with the forces. Various resources, including trained military
police dogs facilitated the arrest of insurgents who tried to infiltrate
the cities after being dislodged from their bases at the outset of the
operations.
“Cordon and Search Operations have
started enjoying tremendous cooperation of locals. Several terrorists,
including their foreign members are being tracked down. Key terrorists,
especially those in the cadre of Amir as well as those helping in their renewed mobilisation and recruitment of minors are being hunted.”
On the controversy over Al-Mustapha’s
fate in the Army, the Defence Headquarters argued that since the former
Chief Security Officer to the late maximum dictator, Gen. Sani Abacha,
was neither dismissed nor sacked during the years of his trial, he
remained a serving officer of the Army.
“With regard to Maj Hamza Al-Mustapha’s
release, I want to confirm that he is still in the army and the case is
going to be handled by the Army administratively in line with the
Harmonised Terms and conditions of service, ” the Chief of Staff to the
Director of Army Public Relations, Col. John Agim, said during the
briefing.
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Why did he not use this his in-law for suicide bombing ? So that this one will join others he forced into the act to prepare a place for him in paradise . One day either alive or dead many will say life is truly owned by God.
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