The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in Maiduguri has announced the arrest of two individuals who are suspected of supplying illicit drugs to the Boko Haram and Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) insurgents in the Lake Chad region.
Lt. Col. Olaniyi Osoba, the spokesperson of the MNJTF, announced the arrest in a statement on Thursday in Maiduguri.
According to the statement, the suspects were reportedly supplying clothing materials to the suspects for their use in the production of uniforms and flags.
Further details revealed that one of the suspects was arrested along the long Kekeno – Cross Kauwa road in Borno; the military personnel recovered a large quantity of substances and 198 parcels of Marijuana. In another operation, the troops arrested another suspect along the Gubio-Damasak road.
The second person, who was suspected to be a terrorist, was driving a Toyota pickup vehicle with registration JAK 49 XA (YOBE); he was found with a sack loaded with 19 bundles of clothing materials.
The spokesperson disclosed that the clothing materials have been suspected to be intended to be used for uniforms and flags for Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters.
In the process, the spokesperson also confirmed that the troop successfully rescued three women and a little baby who were thought to be family members. The rescued persons have told the army that they had escaped from the Lake Chad island in Marte Local Government Area of Borno, and area that has been takeover by the terrorists.
The rescued persons have been handed over to the medical team for examination and proper documentation before handing over to the relevant authorities.
Lt. Col. Olaniyi noted that the operation is a major step in the fight against terrorism in the Lake Chad region, he explained that the arrest has disrupted the supply chain that has been used to sustain the terrosits in the area and reuniting innocent people with their families.
