Military captures 120 Boko Haram members in Maiduguri

 • No hiding place for terrorists, says army chief

 • Yobe relaxes curfew

IN a major crackdown on insurgents, the Defence Headquarters on Monday announced the arrest of 120 Boko Haram terrorists in Maiduguri, Borno State.

Determined to ensure lasting peace and security in the crisis- ridden northern states, the Brigade Commander of 23 Armoured Brigade Yola, Adamawa State, Brig.-Gen. Fatai Oladipo Alli, on Monday said that there will be no hiding place for the insurgents, assuring that the military was battle ready to crush terrorists.

Meanwhile, citing improvement in the security situation in the state, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State on Monday relaxed the curfew imposed in the state by two hours daily.

Similarly, the military on Monday began a three-day meeting in Abuja with representatives of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), media and paramilitary services towards achieving a common course in national security operations.

In a related development, the Chairman of Abia State Chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the presiding Bishop of Glorious Life Gospel Centre, Aba, Rev. Goddy Okafor, on Sunday called on the Boko Haram sect to take legal action against Nigeria to redress whatever their grievances are against the country rather than resorting to violence.

Also, a Niger Delta activist, Joseph Evah, has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to immediately dispatch his deputy, Namadi Sambo, to the North to join forces with northern governors to tackle the lingering insecurity in the area.

Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, also disclosed that terrorists fleeing Nigeria towards Chad and Niger Republic are being contained by Multi-National Joint Task Force in various locations towards the border.

Olukolade explained that the 120 terrorists were arrested when they converged in Maiduguri to bury one of their commanders who died in an encounter with special forces on Sunday.

He confirmed that the arrested insurgents are in custody of the Joint Task Force where they are being interrogated.

The Defence spokesman added that the military’s special forces have now liberated and secured the environs of New Marte, Hausari, Krenoa, Wulgo and Chikun Ngulalo, an area hitherto under the full grip of the insurgents.

Olukolade stated that the area was liberated after the military destroyed all the terrorists’ camps sited in those localities.

He said that the troops are already interacting with locals and citizens, assuring them of their safety and freedom from the activities of insurgents.

Olukolade also noted that “advancing troops also observed a few shallow graves believed to be those of hurriedly buried members of the terrorist groups.”

He stated: “Defence Headquarters has observed the use of photographs purportedly taken in the areas covered by the operations and wishes to state that the photographs are questionable as they do not reflect any related reality of the social or geographical environment.

“This also makes the story they claim to depict of Nigerians fleeing to Niger Republic and other countries doubtful. The media is advised to always strive to associate stories with accurate pictures in order to avoid misleading the public.”

The commander, who spoke Monday in Yola while addressing the troops from 174 Battalion, Ikorodu, Lagos, that arrived the state Monday’s morning  said that more troops were on their way to Adamawa to smoke out the insurgents from their hide-outs.

He said that the troops were to be deployed to the black spots and the borders to restrict people from coming into the state, adding that the action would cage the insurgents.

Alli, who cautioned the soldiers against harassing innocent people, urged the troops to be firm and ensure that water-tight security was maintained in the state for effective operations.

He stated that under no condition or situation would the military compromise its constitutional responsibility of protecting the country against external aggressors and maintaining peace and unity.

He further urged the people of the state to co-operate with the military by giving them information that can lead to capturing more terrorists in the state.

The decision to relax the curfew was reached at the Government House, Damaturu, after the governor met with the Joint Task Force (JTF) and heads of other security agencies in the state.

In a statement by the governor’s special adviser on Public Affairs and Information, Abdullahi Bego, the curfew will now begin from 6.00 p.m. to 6.00 a.m. daily, until the security situation improves.

Bego added: “Governor Ibrahim Gaidam has today (yesterday) approved an adjustment of the hours during which public movement is restricted around the state.

Consequently, restriction on movement now starts from 6.00 p.m. to 6.00 a.m. daily throughout the state with effect from today, Monday, May 20, 2013.

The governor urged the general public to continue with the exemplary support and co-operation with security agents to ensure lasting peace in the state.”