Jutha Gupah, Maiduguri
Troops of Operation Lafiya Dole; have arrested four suspected Boko Haram suppliers of fuel and logistic materials to prevent insurgency that claimed many lives and property. The suspects were arrested at military checkpoints in Maiduguri, with four truck and vehicles loads of motorcycle parts, petrol, grains, bread, and tarpaulins. Other intercepted items destroyed yesterday, include fertilizers used in the production of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). Destroying the supplies and materials on Monday in Maiduguri, Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj-Gen. Olusegun Adeniyi; said that the Army has banned the sale of petrol and other logistic materials in hinterlands of insurgency affected states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe. According to him, the ban of petrol and other logistic materials; was to stifle Boko Haram economy fund its activities in Northeast. His words: “There are no petrol stations in Sambisa Forest, Alagarno, Baga and Gwoza. The logistics sustaining the insurgents are coming from Maiduguri, Damaturu and other communities that were liberated by military. “Some commercial vehicle operators fabricate 200-litre tanks; to enable them supply and sell large quantities of petrol to insurgents at N245 a litre, instead of official pump price of N145. “Troops at checkpoints intercepted four vehicles on their way to deliver large consignments of logistics and other supplies to the insurgents in the hinterland. “The insurgency will have stopped if not for the people who patronize them.” He said efforts of the troops were not only to fight in the front lines, but prevent illegal businesses that fuel insurgency. “Boko Haram logicians will neither be tolerated nor ignored,” he declared. He said anybody who engages or allows his or her vehicle to transport insurgents’ logistics would be prosecuted. According to him, transporters are part of Boko Haram terrorists and enemies of the nation. He called on members of Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to be sensitized on the need to desist from transporting goods for insurgents, warning that such vehicles would be seized and destroyed. The Army had August 23, 2019 destroyed four truckloads of fish, hides and skin intercepted by Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel along Maiduguri-Gambouru road.
