The Defence Headquarters (DHQ)
confirmed yesterday the arrest of Boko
Haram leader Imam Abubakar Shekau’s
in-laws.
The raid in which the in-laws were
arrested resulted in the recovery of some
recorded audio messages of the
insurgents, the DHQ said.
Also, the DHQ said a recent encounter
with the terrorists led to the death of
Amir of Bulabulin Nganaram, one of the
kingpins on the Joint Task Force’s (JTF’s)
wanted list.
It also confirmed that 58 detainees linked
with Boko Haram insurgents had been
released in Borno and Yobe states.
DHQ spokesman Brig-Gen. Chris
Olukolade, who made the disclosures at a
briefing by the Joint Security Committee
in Abuja, said the Special Forces in
Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states were
not on any vengeance mission but purely
on a mission to restore law and order.
Gen. Olukolade 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
soak-away. Various weapons were also
discovered in the same area.
“Abubakar Shekau’s parents’ in-law were
picked up in the raid which also
discovered various audio recordings of
terrorists’ messages. Recoveries are
made almost on daily basis as the
operation progresses.
“The media have had opportunity to
inspect some of the items recovered from
the camps. The recoveries, among others,
include: eight AK47 assault rifles, one G3
rifle, nine AK47 magazines, one Rocket
Propelled Grenade charger, five Rocket
Propelled Grenade, three FMC magazine,
one G3 magazines, 14 IEDs and 166
rounds of 7.62mm Special.
Others are 3 35mm Bazooka; 34 rounds
of 5.56mm, 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 mega phones.
“In keeping with presidential directives, a
total of 58 detainees linked with Boko
Haram insurgents have been released in
Borno and Yobe states.
“These comprised 23 women and 35
children. Some of the teenagers
confessed that they were conscripted to
run errand for the terrorists who paid
them paltry N5,000 to monitor troops
and set public buildings ablaze. The
women and children were handed over to
the governors of Borno and Yobe states
for onward rehabilitation and
reintegration.”
The Defence spokesman confirmed the
death of a key leader of Boko Haram in
Maiduguri.
He said: “The mandate of Mr. President
to the forces involves the destruction of
all terrorist camps/bases, apprehension of
perpetrators and bringing them to justice.
This mandate has been substantially
achieved with destruction of terrorists’
stronghold and bases. In the process,
many captives of the terrorists especially
women and children, were freed from the
camps as their captors fled in disarray.
“A recent encounter in the terrorists
main enclaves in Bulabulin Nganaram,
Aljajeri and Faluja in Maiduguri metropolis
led to the death of Amir of Bulabulin
Nganaram, one of the kingpins on the JTF
wanted list. Many women and minors
were rescued and handed over to their
families by the JTF.
“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 try to infiltrate
the cities after being dislodged from their
bases at the outset of the operation.
“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.”
Olukolade insisted that the Special
Operation had reduced the spate of
bombings nationwide.
He added: “Notwithstanding the sporadic
asymmetric attacks on certain soft
targets, you would have noticed a drastic
reduction in bombings and attacks on
places outside the North-East epicenter of
the terrorists. The improved security
situation as indicated in general
assessment has resulted in the ongoing
phased restoration of telecommunication
services in the states where it had to be
withdrawn at the beginning of operation.
Hence, Adamawa State now has
telecommunication services fully
restored.
“Highlight of developments on this
operation will be discussed subsequently,
but we must note that apart from the
ongoing operations in the Northeast,
there are other joint operations by the
security agencies in other parts of the
country.
“These include the efforts to check the
activities of oil theft and illegal bunkering
in the Niger Delta, restoration of peace in
the Plateau as well as tackling armed
banditry, kidnapping and other violent
crimes confronting our country. Let us
look at the achievements and
developments at these other on-going
operations.”
The Defence spokesman said the Special
Forces had complied with the rule of
engagement and they are now enjoying
much cooperation from the civilian
populace.
He said: “As relative peace gradually
returns to the affected states, peace and
confidence building mechanism have been
put in place to consolidate on the modest
achievement.
“One of the gains of the confidence
building process is that civilian populace
are now not only willing to volunteer
information on suspected individuals in
their vicinity but are prepared to get
physically involved in apprehending them.
Defence Headquarters Assessment teams
who visited the states observed increased
commercial activities as banks, markets
and other public places have been opened
and in business.
“The forces in this operation are quite
conversant with the rules of engagement.
Constant monitoring is ongoing to ensure
there is no violation and where there is,
to instantly investigate and punish
perpetrators.
“Nigerians and our friends abroad must
realise that the security operations were
necessitated by the need to secure and
restore the rights of Nigerian citizens who
were being abused by the activities of
terrorists.
“The terrorists have not only violated
Nigeria’s sovereignty, they have
committed mindless atrocities against
citizens and there is no way such abuse,
lawlessness and hate ideology could be
encouraged or allowed to continue.
“While the forces will remain accountable,
the prying eyes of various activists should
equally focus on the unending and
condemnable atrocities of terrorists
rather than desperately trying to play to
the gallery by seeking evidence to indict
the forces of non-existent human rights
abuses. The forces are not on any
revenge mission but purely on a mission
to restore law and order.”
Although Olukolade praised the press for
its understanding, he faulted some foreign
reports on the Special Operation.
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