Soldiers arrest four suspected Boko

• Destroy terrorists’ camps, landmines in Borno

SOLDIERS of the 33 Artillery Brigade, Nigerian Army in Bauchi have arrested four persons for allegedly acting as spies for Boko Haram terrorists.

A statement issued by the Acting Director Army Public Relations (Ag.DAPR) Col. Sani Usman, said one of the suspects confessed to have spied on the Catholic church that was bombed on Christmas day in Madalla Niger State in 2011.

The statement reads: “The men, Victor Moses (who carried out the surveillance in Madalla), Abubakar Shettima, Salisu Mohammed Bello and Umar Sadiq Madaki, have been carrying out surveillance missions for Boko Haram terrorists to enable the group carry out suicide bombings and other attacks.”

It added that Moses was arrested while spying on a mosque in Bauchi, under the guise of desiring to be converted to Islam, but the people suspected his mission and reported him to the authorities.

“During interrogation he confirmed that he was working for an Islamic cleric in Gombe (now at large) and that their point of contact was one Abubakar Shettima based in Jos. He confessed to identifying targets for suicide bomb attacks including the Catholic church in Madalla, Suleja, Niger State on 25th December 2011.”

Usman said the suspects are being interrogated at the 33 Artillery Brigade Headquarters, Shadawanka Barracks, Bauchi.

In a related development, the military under the ongoing Operation Lafiya Dole said it has destroyed camps belonging to Boko Haram terrorists and cleared landmines erected in the Gudumbali-Gashigar axis of Guzamala local council of Borno State.

This was disclosed yesterday in Maiduguri by Col. Usman in a statement made available to newsmen.

The statement reads in part: “In continuation of the clearance of the remnants of recalcitrant members of Boko Haram terrorists in the various nooks and crannies of the North East, the Armed Forces Special Forces (AFSF) carried out successful clearance of Boko Haram terrorists hideouts in Gudumbali area.”

Usman also said that the terrorists had been operating in the Gudumbali-Gashigar axis of Niger border for over a year before the military cleared their camps and the buried landmines.

“The latest military feat was carried out by the Armed Forces Special Forces in the affected council and other border areas with Niger Republic, near the Kumadugu-Yobe River in Mobbar council area,” the statement said.