Soldiers apprehended 120 members of the Boko Haram group who were ironically making arrangements for the burial of one of their commanders killed in confrontation with the military.
Following
the onslaught, the terrorists were said to be fleeing towards Chad and
Niger Republics but they are being contained by troops at the borders.
A
statement signed by the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier
General Chris Olukolade on the development said: “The Special Forces
have now secured the environs of New Marte, Hausari, Krenoa, Wulgo and
Chikun Ngulalo after destroying all the terrorist camps sited in the
vicinity of these localities. The troops are already interacting with
locals and citizens assuring them of their safety and freedom from the
activities of insurgents.
“Terrorists
fleeing towards Chad and Niger Republic are being contained as they
have had encounter with Multi-National Joint Task Force in various
locations towards the border. Advancing troops also observed a few
shallow graves believed to be those of hurriedly buried members of the
terrorist groups. In Maiduguri, about 120 terrorists were arrested as
they organized burial of one of their commanders who died in an
encounter with Special Forces the previous day.
“The arrested insurgents are in custody of the Joint Task Force where they are being interrogated”.
Meanwhile,
Defence Headquarters said it 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.
Following
relative peace witnessed in some parts of Borno and Yobe states, the
JTF has relaxed the curfew in order to ease the hardship being faced by
the people, especially the poor masses.
A
press statement signed by the JTF Spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Sagir
Musa and issued to newsmen in Maiduguri said: “The 24-hour curfew
earlier imposed in Gamboru-Customs Area, Mari Kuwait Area of University
of Maiduguri, Bakin Kogi Area, Kasuwan Shanu-Kofar Biyu Area have been
relaxed from 6am to 7pm”.
Other
areas/wards where the 24hours curfew have been relaxed include Ruwan
Zafi-Customs Area, 202 Housing Estate, Bama Road, 303 Housing Estate
Bama Road, Dikwa Low-cost Housing Estate.
Also
affected are Simari-Zannari-Kwanan Yobe Area, 505 Abba Gana Terab
Housing Estate, Muna Garage Road, Chad Basin Muna Garage Road, Baga Road
Federal Lowcost Area, Bolori, Jajeri and Umamari Area.
In
a related development, the Special Adviser to Governor Ibrahim Gaidam
on Press Affairs and Information, Alhaji Abdullahi Bego said: “In view
of the relative peace in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital and its
environs, the curfew has now been relaxed from 6am to 6pm.”
The
statement said, “In view of the need to sustain the relative peace that
all parts of the state currently enjoy, His Excellency the Executive
Governor Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam has approved an adjustment of the hours
during which public movement is restricted around the state”.
Consequently
the statement added that, restriction on movement now starts from
6.00PM to 6.00AM daily throughout the state with effect from today
Monday 20th May 2013.
The
decision for this adjustment according to Bego follows a meeting that
His Excellency the governor had with heads of law enforcement agencies
in the state.
Gaidam therefore urged the public to continue with the exemplary support and cooperation with security agents to ensure lasting peace, even as he enjoined the public not to relent in prayers for the restoration of peace in the state and the country in general.
Gaidam therefore urged the public to continue with the exemplary support and cooperation with security agents to ensure lasting peace, even as he enjoined the public not to relent in prayers for the restoration of peace in the state and the country in general.
Source: Vanguard
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