By Joel Okwara
In a decisive covert operation fueled by actionable intelligence and extensive surveillance, the Nigerian Army has apprehended eight members of a syndicate smuggling fuel to Ambazonian rebels in Cameroon.
The operation, conducted on Friday, May 24, 2024, targeted the Abong-Kurmi Baissa Road in Taraba State, near the Nigeria-Cameroon border.
The suspects, identified as Jafaru Adamu (32), Auwal Haruna (34), Umar Dahiru, Mubarak Abdullahi (20), Saidu Musa (26), Bashiru Ibrahim (18), Danlami Yahuaza (19), and Abubakar Abdullahi (19), were caught en route to the border with a significant fuel load.
During preliminary investigations, they confessed to smuggling and selling fuel to Cameroonian Ambazonian rebels, who are barred from entering Nigeria to purchase fuel directly.
The suspects revealed that they previously sourced fuel from Gassol and Bali Local Government Areas (LGAs) at ₦950 per litre but switched to Takum LGA where fuel was cheaper at ₦800 per litre.
At the time of their arrest, they were transporting 24,200 litres of fuel in three J5 vehicles, valued at ₦19,360,000.
Further investigation identified other syndicate members, including Alhaji Abdulmumini, Jafaru Adamu, Babilu Zubairu, Sule Abong, and Mark Akawu, reportedly the syndicate’s chairman based in the border community of Abong.
This operation marks a significant effort in disrupting the illegal supply chain supporting terrorist activities and enhancing regional security.
