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•Another arms cache uncovered in Kano
The Special Force operating in Yobe State said it had cleared all the terrorist camps around Damaturu, the state capital, and in the process arrested a total of 49 suspected Boko Haram terrorists.
The military also said many Boko Haram members were fleeing to neighbouring Niger Republic through the porous borders.
Same federal troops in Maiduguri yesterday apprehended a man described as “a key terrorist who specializes in recruiting young men into the fold, … the insurgents’ armourer.”
Defence Headquarters said that the 49 terrorists were apprehended in various locations in Yobe State by troops of Special Forces following a tip off by locals in some communities.
The arrests which were made during cordon and search operation also witnessed the recovery of various weapons including AK 47 rifles, locally made pistols and ammunitions by the troops combing the vicinity of Rugan Fulani, Arikime, Afghanistan and Ngandu villages.
The arrests and discoveries were disclosed to the Defence Headquarters Operation Assessment Team in Damaturu during the week. The team led by Air Commodore BE Inyang was also briefed that all the camps of the terrorists in the area had been dislodged as some of the insurgents fled towards Niger Republic.
The DHQ team was also informed of a trend whereby some particular crimes have now taken the place of terrorism as the criminals now resort to brigandage, robbery and attempted assassination of business rivals.
According to the Defence Headquarters, “a key terrorist who specializes in recruiting young men into the fold has been apprehended by troops in Maiduguri following a tip off.
“The same individual who also watches over the insurgents’ armoury was arrested in one of the cordon and search operations by the Special Forces.”
“Another group of 5 insurgents, all Nigeriens were arrested when troops stormed their hideout at Mallam Fatori as they attempted to escape in 2 Toyota Cruiser Jeeps.”
Meanwhile, troops has intensify patrol of the notorious Sambisa forest and are also cordoning the Alou forest and Gwoza Hills. It said that additional abandoned vehicles, weapons and other items are being recovered in the camps of the insurgents.
Among the recent finds are rifles, double barrel guns, various charms and amulets, machine guns as well as pairs of camouflage uniforms, bows and quiver and assorted rifle magazine. Others are handset, walkie talkie, car number plates and some food items.
Abandoned vehicles recovered include a Golf Car, a Honda, Customs Pickup Van, Honda (2003 Model) and a Volkswagen Monte Carlo.
Meanwhile, security operatives in Kano have unearthed another Hezbollah-linked cache of arms and ammunition in the same location as last week’s find.
Military spokesman Captain Ikedichi Iweha said the new cache involves a bunker beneath the master bedroom. Three Lebanese nationals have been arrested.
The new discovery was made yesterday at the 3 Gaya Road, Bompai address where, last week, a large quantity of arms and ammunition was found in a warehouse, and four foreigners were arrested.
In a statement made available to reporters, Iweha of the Third Brigade of the Nigerian Army said that further search of the bungalow led to the astonishing discovery of dangerous weapons buried under a wardrobe.
“After painstaking search of the whole premises, the search team uncovered an underground bunker in the master bed room where a large quantity of assorted weapons of different types and caliber and ammunition which were properly wrapped was recovered.
“On further search of the property, a cooler was recovered buried under the wardrobe which had in it, 80 indicators, 5 PPK pistols, 334 rds of 7.62mm special, 9 magazines, 4 pistol silencers, 18 36 hand grenades caps, 4 explosive fuses and 2 explosive devices.”
He recalled that on 28 May 2013, a combined team of the DSS and 3 Brigade Nigerian Army conducted a thorough search of a house at No 3 Gaya Road off Bompai Road Kano.