Nigerian Army has arrested two Explosive Ordinance Device personnel attached to 143 Battalion believed to be working with the Islamist sect, Boko Haram.
The duo were arrested at Yola park on February 7 as they attempted to transport some Nigerian Army explosives and ammunitions.
A statement issued by the acting spokesperson of the army, Colonel Sani Usman, said that the ‘black sheep’ are bent on tarnishing the image of the army.
“Despite these successes(recorded against Boko Haram insurgency), a crop of black sheep amongst us are bent on tarnishing the image of the Nigerian Army. Last Sunday 7th February 2016, two of our Explosive Ordinance Device personnel attached to 143 Battalion, 13NA/ 70/10183 Sapper Eric Nwokorie and 13NA/70/10263 Sapper Macauley Fortune were arrested at Yola park.
The arrested officers, according to Col. Usman, had in their possession one Smoke grenade, 2,136 live rounds of 7.62 (Special) ammunition, 50 live rounds of 7.6mm (NATO) ammunition, five magazines of AK 47 rifles, two Browning Machine Gun live rounds of ammunitions.
Others include one axe, cutlass, lack knife, nine Jungle hats, 11 pairs of Camouflage (9 Desert and three woodland green), four Military Pullovers, one black beret and green berets each, a pair of number 7 dress, two General Duty belt, 12 Army T-shirts, two Rain Coats, two water bottles, a pair of rain boot and five pairs of desert boots.
“This unfortunate incident notwithstanding, troops morale remains high as they continue to dominate the general area with aggressive raids, ambushes and patrols to clear the remnants of the terrorists hibernating in the area.”
Col. Usman further disclosed that the Military High Command was aware of the fact that some unscrupulous elements in the society have been thwarting the effort to rid the country, particularly, the North East of Boko Haram terrorists for pecuniary gains.
He stated that these “unscrupulous elements engage in all manners of illegal commercial activities such as trading and smuggling especially during late hours, all aimed at sustaining terrorism and insurgency.”
This, he said, is more prevalent in some towns and villages within the North East especially in Borno and Yobe States, adding that the unpatriotic and selfish elements have clandestinely been aiding the terrorists with logistics and other supplies, through smuggling and other forms of illicit trading, thus sustaining them, while the merchants of death make money out of it.
He said that the Nigerian military and indeed the Nigerian Army is highly concerned with these unpatriotic acts and it is therefore taking some drastic steps to curtail this illicit trading with the terrorists.
“From now on, some markets identified to be engaging in this illegal trade with the adversary in Borno and Yobe States will be closed. Any breach of that would be dealt with accordingly.
“The General Officers Commanding and other commanders have been directed accordingly. We implore for public’s kind support and understanding as we take these drastic measures to enable us decisively deal with the terrorists and saboteurs,” Col. Usman said.
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