Army warns against shielding insurgents

The Nigerian Army has warned communities in the Northeast not to shield Boko Haram members hiding amongst in villages.

Army spokesman Brigadier General Sani Usman, in a statement yesterday made the call following attempts by suspected Boko Haram members to unleash mayhem on Magumeri town in Magumeri Local Government Area of Borno State on Wednesday evening.

He said the timely intervention of the military thwarted the attack, while troops are still consolidating and mopping up.

He said: “It is imperative to state that preliminary investigation shows that the attackers of Magumeri came from the same community. The terrorists that attacked the village are well known to the people.”

“It should also be noted that the village was never attacked throughout the period of the insurgency for some inexplicable reasons. The terrorists and their collaborators hibernating in the area were never exposed.”

“There seems to be unholy alliance between the terrorists and the villagers,” he said.

Usman said: “Consequently, we are constrained to state that it’s now high time for the people to take up the fight themselves and help the Nigerian military and other security agencies to protect them.”

He said: “It is a grievous mistake and criminal offence to continue to shield or harbour any known Boko Haram terrorist in their midst.”