Soldiers arrest Boko Haram’s ‘contact man’

The Nigeria army on Friday said it arrested three Boko Haram members, including the sect’s ‘contact man’. It said it also destroyed a bomb-making factory in Borno state.

According to Sani Usman, army spokesman, soldiers also recovered some items from the insurgents.

“The troops of 25th task force brigade Nigerian army have achieved an unprecedented feat today in the fight against the Boko Haram terrorists in its area of operations,” he said.

“The brigade, during a cordon-and-search operation at Sandia, Kokakowa and Nyaleri villages suspected to be Boko Haram enclaves early today, discovered and destroyed another Improvised Explosives Device (IED) making factory at Miyati and Nyaleri villages, along Maiduguri-Bulabulin-Damboa road, in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria.

“In addition, three terrorists were arrested comprising an ‘Ameer’, a high contact and a foot soldier. Among items discovered apart of the IED making equipment, were a Peugeot pick up van, foodstuffs, 10-KVA Lister generator, gas cylinders, borehole, 9 bags of fertiliser, pumping machine, 3 bags of maize, 1 bag of millet and 13 empty AGO jerry cans, amongst others.”

Usman said the joint operation between the brigade and the Nigeria air force, which provided air cover and tracking, was part of the determined effort by the military to root out insurgents in the general area and open more roads hitherto held by the terrorists for public usage.

“It is also part of the renewed effort and vigour on the part of our troops to meet up with the set dateline that has turned the tide and momentum of the battle against the Boko Haram terrorists in our country,” he added.

“I am glad to say that the troops are on high morale and very excited with their accomplishment thus far. In a related development, troops have made substantial progress in an advance to reclaim and destroy terrorists held areas within Gamboru Ngala general area.”