Reps condemn Nyanya, Kuje bomb blasts

Troops arrest Boko Haram financier with cash, drugs
THE House of Representatives has formally condemned the recent bomb blasts in Nyanya and Kuje axes the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as well as the recent bombings in Maiduguri Borno State, in which no fewer than 30 persons were killed with dozens of others injured.

Meanwhile, as the military offensive against Boko Haram militant group rages on, troops of the Nigerian Army have arrested a suspected financier who also supplies stimulant drugs to the insurgents, even as they raided a camp in Dikwa, killing scores of the terrorists, Acting Director of Army Public Relations (Ag. DAPR) Col. Sani Usman has said.

Adopting a motion moved under matters of urgent public importance by Mr. Victor Kolade Akinjo (PDP: Ilaje/Eseodo:Ondo), the lawmakers who observed a minute’s silence in honour of the victims condemned the dastard act blamed on the Islamist group, Boko Haram.
Akinjo in the motion entitled: “Candid Condolences and Call for Action” particularly wished the injured speedy recovery and fortitude for the bereaved.

At the plenary session presided by the Deputy Speaker, Suleiman Lasun Yussuf, Akinjo canvassed support for President Muhammadu Buhari to rid the country of the menace of terrorism and insurgency.

He noted: “We lend our voices loudly to several other well-meaning citizens to condemn insurgency and tasking all hands to be on deck in our bid to arrest the sad trend, calling on the constituent stake-holders to sit tight and bolt obvious loopholes.

“The recorded callous damage done to lives and properties by the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria is enough to warrant revolutionary measures and provoke more proactive security initiatives that will dwell much on intelligence exchange, gathering and compensation to nip the unmitigated bombings in the bud and bring culprits to book.

“The least expected of us a people is to join hands with the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to defeat this bubonic plague afflicting the collective psyche of our people through articulated enduring agenda focusing on collaborative, combative, educative and rewarding models.”

A statement in Abuja from Usman said the suspect usually collects money from those sympathetic to the insurgents along the Maiduguri-Dikwa-Kulli axis before sending same to the terrorists’ camps.

It reads in part: “Troops have also intercepted and arrested a suspected Boko Haram financier and stimulants dealer, Mohammed Maina in Bama, Bama Local Council of Borno State.

A native of Ngurosoye, Mohammed came from Shuari Village in Bama and was arrested with the sum of N1 000,000 (one million naira cash) and some other items.

Investigation revealed that Mohammed supplies them Kolanuts and other items especially stimulants.

Kolanuts are in high demand among the terrorists as it keeps them active at night. It is apparent also that he plies Maiduguri-Dikwa-Kulli axis where he gathers monetary and other materials contributions from Boko Haram sympathizers along that axis and send same to the terrorists camps,” it stated.

Usman said in the statement that joint fighting patrol by the troops of the 112 Battalion in Mafa and Special Forces in Dikwa invaded terrorists’ camp in Bulungwa Naibe in Dikwa Local Council, killing scores of the terrorists and capturing heavy military equipment.

The Dikwa area has suffered several attacks and severe raids by terrorists. This well coordinated operation by the military came as a relief to the people of the area.

The statement said, “during the operation, quite a number of the Boko Haram terrorists were killed and the following items were recovered; a Buffalo vehicle mounted with an anti-aircraft gun; a rocket propelled grenade; two machine guns and a sub-machine gun.
Others include five AK-47 rifles, one Fabrique Nationale rifle and two sewing machines used by the terrorists for sewing uniforms.”