55 arrested as Army nabs top terrorist recruiter

A key terrorist suspect, who specialises in recruiting personnel into terror cells, has been arrested by troops in Maiduguri following a tip-off.

In a press release signed by the defence spokesman, Brigadier General Christopher Olukolade, the individual is also the person that supervises the insurgents’ armoury.

He said the troops continue to patrol the notorious Sambisa forest and are also cordoning off the Alou forest and Gwoza Hills finding more abandoned vehicles, weapons and other items in insurgent camps.

Among the recent finds are rifles, double barrel guns, various charms and amulets, machine guns as well as pairs of camouflage uniforms, bows and quiver and assorted rifle magazine.

Others are handsets, walkie-talkies, car number plates and some food items.

In a related development, the army Wednesday also announced the arrest of 55 suspected Boko Haram terrorists in the north-eastern states of Borno and Yobe. This group included five insurgents of Nigerien origin who were arrested when troops stormed their hideout in the Mallam Fatori area of Maiduguri as they attempted to escape in two Toyota Cruiser SUVs and another batch of 49 suspected terrorists in various locations in Yobe following a tip-off by local residents.

General Olukolade also said that for the first time in years, police stations are now being reopened in some parts of Borno while observing that there is a developing “trend whereby some particular crimes have now taken the place of terrorism as the criminals now resort to brigandage, robbery and attempted assassination of business rivals”.

-- Channelstv