Army investigators arrest major and captain over suspicion they are helping Boko Haram

NIGERIAN Army investigators have arrested a major and a captain in connection with alleged sabotage of the ongoing counter-terrorism operations amid allegations that they passed on military intelligence to Boko Haram.

 

Military intelligence officials commenced a painstaking but discreet investigation  into the activities of some of its personnel following the Boko Haram attack on troops’ location in Gashigar, on October 22. Army spokesman Col Sani Usman, had said on Saturday that 13 soldiers were wounded during a surprise Boko Haram attack on troops at Gashigar in the north of Borno State.

 

Both President Muhammadu Buhari and the chief of army staff Lt General Tukur Buratai, were alarmed about the Gashigar attack, which involved an entire unit. Subsequently, Nigerian Army authorities decided to conduct a discreet investigation into the telephone conversation of some of the security personnel and their civilian counterparts and uncovered some suspicious activities.

 

One military source said that the army was intensifying investigations to unravel two established cases against the arrested suspects. It is believed they leaked information on troops’ movement to the insurgents and helped raise funds to finance Boko Haram operations through cattle rustling.

 

“The president was furious and discussed  the matter with the chief of army staff when some of the heads of that units were ambushed by the Boko Haram. The army leadership took out time to screen the communications lines of the officers for several days without making it known.

 

“The suspicion was that they have links with some civilians and the links were traced. How come that the Borno State governor and other officials have not been attacked, yet they ambushed the chief of army staff?" the military source added.

 

He pointed out that the Nigerian Army would not release information on the matter in view of the fact that there was an ongoing planned rescue operation in the area. Col Usman,  stated that the arrested suspects would be subject to military laws in accordance with the law.