JTF VS Boko Haram - Some Bosky Leaders have been Captured [We are winning]

The defence headquarters in Abuja yesterday said that some of the notorious leaders of fleeing insurgents in Borno and Yobe states have been captured.

It also said in a statement that military weapons and explosives were recovered in the insurgents abandoned camps. But Daily Trust could not independently ascertain the identities of those captured.

The Joint Task Force code named "Operation Restore Order" Borno State had declared 19 members of the Boko Haram sect, including its leader, Abubakar Shekau wanted and offered large sums of money as reward to anyone with information that will lead to their arrest.

The JTF offered N50 million reward for information that could lead to the arrest of Shekau. Others included Habibu Yusuf (N25m), Khalid Albamawa (25m), Momodu Bawa (25m), Mohammed Zangina (25m), Abu Sa'ad (10m), Abba Kaka (10m), Abdulmalik Bama (10m), Umar Fulata (10m), Mustapha Ibrahim (10m) and Abubakar Suleiman Abu (10m).

The statement signed by the Director of Information Brigadier General Chris Olukolade said the "members of Defence Headquarters Operational Assessment Team have returned from Yobe and Borno States to brief the Chief of Defence Staff with updates on the situation in the operational area of the Special Forces operating in the North East.

"Some notorious leaders of the terrorists have been captured while some materials recovered in their camps in Sambisa forest have provided useful intelligence for subsequent operations. Various weapons including rockets, and locally fabricated weapon accessories were captured in the forest. Other items include a large number of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) making materials among. Laptops, Mobile Communication equipment (GSM phones), used for shooting and posting online videos, locally made rockets and rocket launchers were among several items seized from the arrested terrorists."

During its visit, the team was shown seized vehicles of different brands and several others destroyed by the terrorists. "Tailoring equipment apparently used for producing fake uniforms were also shown to the team."

According to him, the troops are currently engaged in night and day patrols of the area to dominate the forest and apprehend any terrorist who may be lurking around.