Suspected Boko Haram fuel suppliers arrested (PHOTOS)

The Quick Reaction Force (QRF) of 251 Battalion, 7 Div Garrison on routine checks has arrested a truck loaded with 25 jerry cans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and other goods cleverly covered and concealed at Molai military check-point, outskirts of Maiduguri at about 8.00am on Tuesday.

Acting Director Army Public Relations Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman made this known in a press statement on Wednesday.

Molai is south and about 10km drive from Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.

Usman said, the driver of the vehicle, Muhammadu Adamu, claimed ignorance of the contents of the vehicle and called the owner of the goods, Tijjani Gambo to explain.

He too (Gambo) denied supplying terrorists fuel and other items, rather he claimed to be a mere trader that supplies goods to customers in Damboa based on demand.

“However, preliminary investigation revealed that he has been sending PMS and other goods through the same route at regular intervals without an identifiable corresponding recipient in Damboa as alleged.

“Although investigations are still ongoing, it is suspected that it could be the means through which he had been supplying the terrorists with dire logistics in Sambisa forest. This is more so that there is a ban on the purchase and transportation of petrol in containers such as that within the theatre.

“Both suspects and the exhibits have been handed over to Joint Interrogation Centre for further investigations”. the statement added.