Troops Arrest Boko Haram Informant, Drug Peddlers, Rescue Kidnapped Children in North-East Operations

By Zainab Uzomah| Abuja

A suspected Boko Haram informant and five suspected drug peddlers have been arrested by troops of Operation HADIN KAI during coordinated operations across parts of the North-East, while two kidnapped children were also rescued.

The arrests and rescue operations were disclosed in a statement issued by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force (North East), Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba.

According to the statement, troops of the 254 Battalion under Sector 2 apprehended a suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP informant identified as Ali Muhammad, 30, at Ngamdu Market in Yobe State. The suspect, said to have been on the military watchlist, was found with cash, charms, a knife, identification cards and an exercise book containing phone numbers of suspected terrorist contacts. The military described the arrest as a major disruption to the intelligence network of terrorist elements operating in the area.

In a separate operation around the Mubi general area of Adamawa State, troops arrested five suspected drug peddlers during a night raid. The suspects were reportedly found in possession of several items, including ammunition, and are currently undergoing further investigation.

The statement further revealed that troops deployed at Ngamdu also arrested two suspected terrorists identified as Haruna Adamu, 32, and Ibrahim Adamu, 20, during operational engagements in the town. Preliminary investigations showed that the suspects allegedly fled from Zamfara State into Yobe State. Recovered items included mobile phones, a power bank, suspected illicit substances and charms.

Meanwhile, troops operating in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State, in collaboration with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, rescued two kidnapped childrenidentified as Barnabas Apagu, 12, and Ruth Apagu, 10, following a distress call on a kidnapping incident. Efforts are ongoing to rescue other victims still held captive.

In another operation, troops in Kukareta area of Yobe State recovered a hand grenade suspected to have been abandoned by fleeing terrorists.

The military high command commended the troops for their gallantry and reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining offensive operations against terrorists across the North-East.