The Nigerian security forces said on Monday that they have busted Boko Haram intelligence cell headed by a businessman, who participated actively in the abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State.
The culprit, Babuji Ya’ari, was also said to be a member of the Youth Vigilante Group popularly known as Civilian JTF, which he uses as cover while remaining an active terrorist.
It was learnt that Babuji spearheaded the murder of the Emir of Gwoza. His main role in the group is to spy and gather information for the terrorists group.
Babuji has been coordinating several deadly attacks in Maiduguri since 2011, including the daring attacks on Customs and military locations as well as the planting of IEDs in several locations in the town, according to Army spokesman, Chris Olukolade.
The arrest of the businessman, who is known to deal in tricycles, has also yielded some vital information and facilitated the arrest of other members of the terrorists’ intelligence cell who are women.
One of them, Hafsat Bako, had earlier escaped to Gombe State to avoid suspicion but was tracked and arrested. Nigerian security forces also disclosed that prior to her arrest, Hafsat coordinated the payment of operatives on the payroll of the group.
In her confession, she disclosed that a minimum of N10,000 is paid to each operative depending on the enormity of the task.
Another female suspect named Haj Kaka, who doubles as an armourer and a spy for the terrorists group, was also arrested.
Until their arrest, Olukolade said all the suspects actively operated a terrorists’ intelligence cell in collaboration with others still at large.
Meanwhile, troops deployed in Goniri, Yobe State, over the weekend, had an encounter with terrorists, resulting in casualties on both sides after the attack was successfully repelled.
