The North East Chairman and Commander of Hunters/Vigilantes (Sarkin Baka) in Hawul Local Government Area of Borno State, Shawulu Yohanna, has arrested some people supplying food to Boko Haram and recovered N6.050million in their possession.
The development followed calls by concerned residents in Hawul and other communities of Garkida town of Adamawa State including Ishaku Yakubu, Mohammed Madu, Isa Mwajim and Peter John demanding Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, Mohammed Ali Ndume, and Chief of Army Staff, General Farouk Yahaya, to deploy troops of ‘Operation Hadin Kai’ to the axis to protect lives and property of people as ahead of yuletide.
The community has come under series of attacks by terrorists and have since been without military formations since the beginning of the Boko Haram crisis.
The arrest of the Boko Haram food suppliers and recovery of over N6million was coordinated by Yohanna at the fringes of Sangere community bordering Tashan Alade, Sabon Gari and some parts of Askira Uba council area where Brigadier General Dzarma Zurkusu and four other soldiers were ambushed and killed by terrorists during operations in the theatre last month.
“The North East Chairman of Hunters, Alhaji Yohanna, and his team did a wonderful job this week. They acted on intelligence information that was given to them by some farmers.
“The farmers volunteered and hinted Yohanna that they usually sighted a truck conveying food items into the fringes of Sangare Village. If you are in Sangare, there are roads that will link you to some parts of Sabon Gari in Damboa Local Government, the other road will take you to Askira-Uba axis or Garkida and even to Hawul Local Government Area.
“Upon receiving the information, Yohanna mobilised his team and stormed the spot in the evening. Luckily, the team sighted the vehicle after its owner was about to hand over the food items to the terrorists, they (hunters) engaged them with fire and captured the driver and some other two occupants, while the terrorists fled having known the terrain better than their suppliers.
“After arrest, Yohanna interrogated the driver and the two occupants and they admitted that they have been supplying Boko Haram with food items for quite some time from Taraba State. They also told the hunters that they do supply even the commander of kidnappers in Taraba with food items.
“As it is, Yohanna and his team have already handed over the suspects to the Commanding Officer of the 231 Battalion, Biu in Borno State for further action,” a source disclosed.