Troops of the Northeast Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have arrested five suspected Boko Haram terrorists logistic suppliers in Mafa Local Government Area of Borno state.

The military said the arrests were made to “disrupt and deny” the terrorists’ supply network, allegedly linked to the 17-year insurgency in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.

Acting Media Information Officer of OPHK, Capt. Mohammed Goni said in a stateme that the soldiers of the 112 Task Force Battalion in conjunction with hybrid forces nabbed the suspects during a routine security operations in the Mafa-Dikwa axis of the local council area.

He said the suspects were intercepted while transporting 491 cartons of Albe Stark 2.5% dewormer and 100 cartons of multivitamin injections for animals without the requisite of a waybill or supporting documentation for the logistic supplies.

Goni further revealed: “A search of the vehicles conveying the supplies, further uncovered concealed medical supplies including 32 cartons of Diclofenac Sodium Injection, 58 cartons of Benzylpenicillin Sodium BP, 6 cartons of Dexamethasone Injection, and 51 cartons of Metronidazole Intravenous Infusion.”

He added thatTroops also recovered 30 units of 80-inch LG plasma televisions, 152 empty Bagco sacks, and seven mobile phones.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the consignments are  destined for a vendor in N’Djamena, Chadian capital.

Goni explained that some  of the concealed medical supplies were also meant to be transported into another truck near the Nigeria–Chad border in an apparent attempt to evade security checks along the Mauduguri-Gambouru road.

Meanwhile, the suspects are currently in the custody of the 24 Task Force Brigade for further investigation.

The military high command said the interception is part of OPHK’s sustained efforts to dismantle terrorists logistics and support networks across the North East by denying tthem the resources needed to sustain their activities.

The military urged pharmaceutical distributors, transporters, and humanitarian organisations to ensure that all bulk medical and agrochemical consignments are properly documented and coordinated with military authorities before movement within the region.

It also called on the public to provide timely information to security agencies to help disrupt terrorist logistic networks.in the Northeast and Lake Chad region.