A “repentant Boko Haram fighter”, Ba’ana Bdiya has been arrested over a bomb attack that led to the deaths of some soldiers.
Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, said the suspect also known as ‘Manci’ was arrested by troops of Operation Hadin Kai for giving out details on the movement of the troops to terrorists on March 16.
The intelligence shared by Manci led to the ambush of soldiers who were attacked with an improvised explosive device (IED). Three soldiers were reported dead and four others were injured on the outskirt of Banki town, Borno state, during the ambush.
It was also reported that Manci had also in February passed a similar intelligence to the Boko Haram fighters who successfully ambushed troops during fighting patrols at Ngauri. The intelligence led to the killing of some soldiers.
Military sources told the publication;
“Ba’ana was among the thousands of Boko Haram who laid down their arms and were accepted back by the society after undergoing rehabilitation. But despite renouncing his membership of the terror group, he maintained close contact with his former colleagues.
“This is less than one week after two other ex-militant, Goni Farouq and Amir Zabu, (The executioner) who were top former Commanders of Boko Haram, were intercepted in a phone conversation, planning attacks against troops.
“The real obstacle standing between the troops and the total and final obliteration of Boko Hama terrorists is the nefarious activities of the local network of informants.
“There are concerns that the continued release of repentant terrorists into society without proper deradicalisation could subvert the progress made so far in the war against insurgency.”
