Boko Haram: Military Captures Cameroonian Weapon Supplier

The Nigerian military in yet another evidence of growing foreign influence within the ranks of the terrorist Boko Haram sect have arrested a Cameroonian who is suspected to be a big arms supplier to the group.

In a related development, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen Kenneth Minima has been checking on deployment and troops’ disposition in various locations of the theatre of the counter terrorist campaign in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

According to the statement issued friday by the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade, the arrest of the Cameroonian has led to the discovery of a large cache of arms and ammunition hidden in the premises of a burnt church in Kalabalge Local Government Area of Borno State.

Olukolade said that the recovered weapons included anti aircraft guns, rocket propelled guns as well as the General Purpose and other brands of machine guns.

“Also recovered from the location were thousands of various calibers of rounds of ammunition and links," he said.

He disclosed that the middle aged man who led troops on the cordon and search operation towards the recovery was one of the terrorists captured in recent raids.

He also disclosed that the weapons were stockpiled to be used in a pending attack on some communities around Nigeria- Cameroon border.

“The weapons have all been evacuated while guard locations and patrols are being maintained in the general area and the surrounding localities," he said.

Meanwhile, Olukolade assured that the troops have continued with various operations assigned to the formations involved in the counter terrorist campaign.

He said that the caves of a particular mountain captured overnight in Borno State was undergoing a thorough search for terrorists who are believed to have fled there in the wake of the ongoing offensive on various terrorist enclaves, adding that arms are also the object of the cordon and search.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff friday continued his visit to troops in various locations in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

Minimah, in company with the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, also visited troops who were wounded in the course of the operation so far, in the Military Hospital in Maiduguri.

During the visit, the service chiefs were assured by the commander of the Hospital, Brig-Gen Okeke that most of the wounded soldiers were in stable condition and that some who have recovered very well, expressed their desire to rejoin their units & colleagues in the operation.

The Army Chief directed that the hospital should not hesitate to let him know the requirement for any case requiring referral or further treatment any where.

In addition, the service chiefs are also undertaking a comprehensive air surveillance of the entire mission area in addition to the direct inspection of some key locations where operations are being conducted.