Military Kills 50 Boko Haram Members In Borno, Yobe

Troops conducting anti-terrorists campaign in northeast Nigeria averted attempted massive raids on villages in Borno and Adamawa states during the weekend. This was disclosed yesterday by the Defence Headquarters in a statement issued and signed by its spokesmen, Major General Chris Olukolade. Troops acting on a tip-off ambushed the terrorists along Biita, Borno State, when the insurgents were on their way to attack selected communities in that area. The soldiers were said to have attacked the terrorists as they filed out of the forest to embark on their mission at about 10pm on Saturday killing over 50 of them in the fierce encounter that ensued. They also recovered 30 rifles, 36 hand grenades, seven machine guns, 11 rocket propelled grenade (RPGs) tubes, 3,500 rounds of ammunition, 6 smoke grenade canisters, four vehicles and other locally fabricated guns. The DHQ further disclosed that four soldiers were wounded in the operation but that they are currently receiving medical treatment. DSS Nabs Frauster Impersonating Boko Haram The Department of State Services has apprehended a man fronting for the dreaded Boko Haram sect and extorting money from influential Nigerians in exchange for protection. National coordinator of the National Information Centre, Mr Mike Omeri, made this known yesterday during the briefing on the efforts to rescue the abducted Chibok schoolgirls. He said the suspect is currently undergoing interrogation. The suspect, whose name was not immediately disclosed, was alleged to have been going around and demanding huge sums from people and communities with the promise that the Boko Haram sect would not attack them. Also speaking at the centre, the SSS spokesman, Merlyn Ogar said that the Boko Haram sect had become a franchise, hence the need for everyone to be vigilant and report any suspicious movements to security operatives for necessary action. Ogar also explained the long delay in perfecting the arrangement for the extradition of Aminu Ogwuche, the suspected mastermind of the deadly Nyanya bomb blast which killed over 70 persons, saying that the extradition process was still in progress. The SSS spokesman revealed that the whereabouts of the second mastermind of the Nyanya bomb attack, Rufai Abubakar Tsiga, was still unknown and urged the media and citizens to help inproviding information that could lead to the arrest of the Boko Haram fugitive. On the fate of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls, Omeri noted that the Nigerian security operatives and other foreign security agencies were still working round the clock at the Chibok areas to ensure their safe return.