- As Troops Arrest Terrorists’ Collaborators And Informants
By Augustine Osayande
An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) buried on the road between Kangarwa and Alagarno village in Borno State by suspected members of Boko Haram group have killed an Army officer and 3 soldiers after a patrol team of 133 Special Forces Battalion on patrol to Maiduguri encountered the IED on Thursday 29th June.
According to Director Army Public Relations Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman 3 other members of the patrol team sustained various degrees of injuries and their Hilux vehicle was also completely damaged. “Yesterday, Thursday 29th June 2017, at about 8.00am a patrol team of 133 Special Forces Battalion on patrol to Maiduguri, encountered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) buried on the road between Kangarwa and Alagarno village. Unfortunately, the IED claimed the life of an officer and 3 soldiers, while 3 other members of the patrol team sustained various degrees of injuries. Their Hilux vehicle was also completely damaged” Usman said.
He said the bodies of the late officer and soldiers have since been evacuated while the wounded have also been moved to the unit’s medical facility. Usman added that the 3 suspected Boko Haram terrorists that planted the IED and hide were pursued and neutralized.
Meanwhile, troops of 159 Battalion Nigerian Army has arrested Abubakar Ahmed and Aji Maina who were suspected to be Boko Haram terrorists’ collaborators and informants. The Army spokesman said both suspects were arrested on Wednesday 28th June 2017 at Garin Gada and Kanamma respectively after painstaking trailing.
He said Abubakar Ahmed was arrested while trying to collect relief materials for onward conveyance to Boko Haram terrorists, while Aji Maina was arrested while on transit at Kanamma enroute Gamari in Niger Republic and they are further being interrogated.
Also Vigilant elements of 8 Division Nigerian Army stationed at Kukawa, northern Borno State on Thursday 29th June 2017, intercepted 2 minors; Abubakar Aji aged 13 and Isah Mustapha aged 12 on spying mission on troops location at Kukawa. Usman said the minors claimed to have been with Boko Haram terrorists in Kangarawa since 2014.