This was disclosed at the weekend by a reliable military source to Saturday Mirror in Abuja. The offer of information by the detained Boko Haram chieftains followed the promise of special juicy packages for them by the government.
The military source at the Defence Headquarters, DHQ, who spoke with our correspondent on the condition of anonymity said the offer promised were very tempting that the informants could not resist.
They have, according to him, therefore, been offering useful information on the sect to aid ongoing military offensive. Although the source refused to give full detail of the package for security reasons, he said the informants had been promised state pardon, rehabilitation and military protection as principal witnesses of the state.
But speaking to Saturday Mirror through its Director of Defence Information, DDI, Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade, the Defence Headquarters said that it could not confirm that the informants had received any promise.
It however confirmed that the informants were indeed cooperating over the ongoing investigation. “I don’t know about the offers but they are cooperating,” Olukolade said. He had also said that when the military is through with its investigations, it would tell the public what it, the military, wants them to know.
The source said that the informants were making startling revelations that were capable of helping the military to quash insurgency in Nigeria. Powerful politicians in the north, were also said to have been fingered by the informants for allegedly having direct responsibilities over the terrorists’ activities in the country.
Consequently, the source said that these revelations formed part of reasons that the military authorities had become so confident about winning the war. Only within the week, during his conference with various Commanders of the Nigerian Army Divisions, Commands and Units, the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, had declared that Boko Haram would end in the next few months. Early this month, the military had announced the arrest of some Boko Haram’s informants as well as burst its intelligence network.
A statement by the DHQ, had disclosed that the terrorists’ intelligence cell that was uncovered by troops was headed by a businessman, Babuji Ya’ari, who participated actively in the abduction of the school girls in Chibok, Borno State.
“The man, Babuji Ya’ari who is also a member of the Youth Vigilante Group popularly known as Civilian JTF which he uses as cover while remaining an active terrorist, also spearheaded the murder of the Emir of Gwoza”, the DHQ said in a statement. His main role in the group, according to the DHQ, was 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.
“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. “Prior to her arrest, Bako coordinated the payment of other 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 his task. “Another female suspect named Haj Kaka who doubles as an armourer and a spy for the terrorists group has also been arrested.
Until their arrest, all the suspects actively operated a terrorists’ intelligence cell in collaboration with others still at large”, an earlier statement by the DHQ had disclosed.
As govt promises them state pardon, protection, other juicy packages, that is why those informations could be obtained.
Source: National Mirror
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