We don’t know Boko Haram sponsors, says defence hqtrs

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), yesterday, said the nation’s military high command had no information on the financiers of Boko Haram and other terrorist groups in the country.

It added that with the incursion of insurgents from neighboring countries, the military was fighting indigenous and foreign criminals. Coordinator, Defence Media Operations (DMO), Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, who was updating reporters on forays initiated by the military from June 18 to July 2, 2020, said foreigners were captured during the raid in Niger State.

Asked if the financiers had confessed to the malfeasance, Eneche said the military does not know them. His words: “We (the military) stop at information gathering because we work with other security agencies. When we get any information, we stop there. We are yet to see the sponsors. But the evidence is that these terrorists are getting equipment, and the cost tells you that they have sponsors.

“We do not know their sponsors, and if there is such information, they will definitely be tracked. We have the agencies that do that, specifically the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and the Department of State Services (DSS).

“For the military, we are at the frontline, and we hope that no matter how long it takes, they (sponsors) will be tracked, and I am aware that there are several work being done on that.”

Eneche said the insurgents were tarrying due to the presence of informers/collaborators across the theatre.He said the activities of Operation LAFIYA DOLE in Borno State had led to the destruction of the insurgents’ tactical command centre housing some of their high value leaders, and neutralised a good number of their fighters at Garin Maloma and Yuwe villages. According to him, troops of Operation Hadarin Daji had rescued 29 captives in Katsina and Zamfara states.