TheCable

The Nigerian army on Thursday said it had arrested three Chadians for their alleged links to the Boko Haram sect.

According to Lucky Irabor, theater commander, operation Lafiya Dole, the suspects were arrested at a check point in Damasak, Borno state.

“On January 26, at about 17:45 hours, three Chadians were arrested at a check point in Damasak after a mobile phone belonging to one of them was flipped through and it shows pictures of men in both military T-shirt and mufti with GPMG, FN and AK 47 rifles.

“The Chadians are in custody undergoing interrogation.”

Irabor said the army also intercepted seven females from Niger Republic last month.

“On January 16, at about 17:15 hours, troops deployed at Cham check point intercepted seven female immigrants from the Republic of Niger enroute Yola via Kano,” he said.

“Three of them were with their passports, while the fourth had no means of identification.”

He said the immigrants were undergoing interrogation and will be handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service for further action.

Irabor said that the army had also conducted ambush operations against the Boko Haram insurgents and recovered large quantity of weapons.

“On January 28, at about 13:15 hours our own troops deployed at Miyanti conducted ambush along Miyanti- Banki road.

“The troops encountered the terrorists’ elements and subsequently engaged them where two were killed in action,” he said.

“Items recovered from them include: an AK47 rifle; three magazines and five rounds of 7.62 mom special.

“There were also two pieces of 36 hand grenades; a cell phone and a motorcycle.”