•24 arrested in Auchi, says monarch
By Adetutu Folasade-Koyi, with agency report
The Nigerian Army has rescued nine minors undergoing terrorist training in Jarawa village, in Kala Balge Local Government Area of Borno State.
The minors were rescued on Sunday, June 11, 2017, said army spokesman, Brig. Gen. Sani Usman, in a statement, yesterday.
Besides, during a raid on the village, Abu Nazir, the terrorists’ Amir was killed, alongside several others.
Usman said the army and the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) cleared an ambush in the village, at the weekend.
“The troops were able to neutralise a large number of Boko Haram terrorists including the notorious Abu Nazir, the terrorists’ Amir in Jarawa during the operation
“Following credible and confirmed information about the convergence of some elements of suspected Boko Haram terrorists at Jarawa village, Kala Balge Local Government Area, Borno State, troops of 3 Battalion, 22 Brigade Nigerian Army of Operation Lafiya Dole, in conjunction with some Civilian JTF (CJTF) yesterday, June 11, carried out a successful clearance operation along that axis. At about a kilometre to Jarawa village, the troops encountered heavy Boko Haram terrorists’ ambush, which they successfully cleared after about some minutes of fire fight. They followed it up in hot pursuit of the fleeing insurgents into the nearby forest.
“The troops were able to neutralise a large number of Boko Haram terrorists, including the notorious Abu Nazir, the terrorists’ Amir in Jarawa during the operation.
“They also captured several weapons including an AK-47 rifle, one double barrel gun, one primed heavy Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and three motorcycles.
“Additionally, they rescued nine abducted children undergoing training at the terrorists’ training camp in the village.
“The minors have been evacuated and are being given preliminary humanitarian assistance in preparation to handing them over to Kala Balge Internally Displaced Persons Camp Management Committee,” said Usman.
In a related development, Otaru of Auchi Kingdom, in Edo State, Aliru Momoh, yesterday, announced the arrest of 24 suspected Boko Haram members in the community, by the army.
The monarch disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in his palace, at Auchi, headquarters of the Estako-West local government area of the state.
He said the Commandant of the Nigeria Army School of Engineering, near Auchi, informed him of the arrest.
“Shortly before you came, I had audience with the commandant.
“He informed me about what they were doing and the arrest of some 24 suspected members of Boko Haram operating under the guise of Fulani herdsmen in the community.
“The commandant also informed me that the suspects would be transferred to Benin and commended the commandant “for taking proactive steps” by taking the fight to the suspected insurgents in the forest, and added that the “issue of security needs careful planning and execution.”
The monarch, who described the activities of the herdsmen in the area as worrisome, said “we have asked farmers, especially the women, to stop going to the farms for now.