Boko Haram: JTF Begins House-to-House Search

National Security Adviser,  Gen. Owoye Azazi (RTD)

By  Michael Olugbode   
In a renewed offensive to end the Boko Haram insurgency in parts of Borno State, the Joint Task Force (JTF) has begun a house-to-house search operation to flush out members of the group from Maiduguri, the state capital.

The JTF, explaining its latest modus operandi, said yesterday that the return of house-to-house search by its troops in some flash points of Boko Haram attacks within the Maiduguri metropolis was aimed at fishing out the sect’s members and providing adequate security for the people of the town.

Spokesman of the task force, Lt-Col Sagir Musa, said in a statement: “What you are seeing (movement of troops to some areas and search of houses) is a routine patrol conducted by the JTF in areas considered as flash points.”

He also said: “Targeted and deliberate cordon-and-search were being carried out in some selected locations of Abbaganaram, Budum and Jajeri.”

Musa advised residents not to panic over the presence of the JTF patrol vehicles and troops even as he urged the people to continue their legitimate business “unmolested and support the task force in its efforts to maintain law and order”.

He also said that the search-and-cordon exercise would be a continuous one.       

Meanwhile, the foster father of the captured Boko Haram former spokesman, Abu Dardaa (also called Abu Qaqa), was killed on Monday evening in Maiduguri by gunmen believed to be members of the sect.

Also killed by the sect were a retired Deputy Comptroller of Prisons, Abdullahi Bello, and a retired prison officer whose name could not be ascertained as at last night.

A security source told THISDAY that Bello, popularly known as DC, and his friend were performing ablution in preparation for the sunset (Magrib) prayers at his (Bello’s) residence located around Bayan Quarters when they were shot dead.

The foster father of Qaqa, who hails from Kogi State, the same as his foster son, was said to have returned to his house located some metres away from the demolished enclave of the Boko Haram leader, Mohammed Yusuf, a few days earlier having been out of the state for a long time.

According to a resident of the area, “The gunmen came and shot him and his friend while rounding up their ablution at about 6.30pm.”

Though the reason for the killing remains a mystery, some respondents told THISDAY that the sect might be sending a message to him that he should desist from revealing their secrets to the security agencies.

The source said: “You know the arrested chieftain of the sect has been divulging information which has been giving the security operatives an edge in their battle against the fundamentalists and the only way to keep him in check is to send a message to him that if he cannot be killed, he could be touched and the only way to do this is kill someone who is very close to him.”

In a related development, the JTF has killed two members of the sect in Maiduguri while they were alleged attempting to escape from custody.

In a press release, Musa said: “Following a tip-off, a special operation was conducted that resulted in the arrest of a notorious commander of Boko Haram who was involved in recent attacks in Maiduguri.

“He was arrested with his lieutenant in Jajeri area of the city. They attempted to escape when being moved to detention facilities and were shot by JTF troops and they bled to death before they got to the hospital.”
He further revealed that the bodies of the duo had been deposited at the mortuary of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH).

He said items recovered in their hideouts included: a pump action gun, two pieces of bow and arrow, three machetes and a telephone hand set.

Musa said the incident occurred at about 1:30 pm Tuesday.
He revealed that in another incident in the town after a distress call was received by the JTF, led to the killing of some suspected bandits.

According to him, the JTF responded to a distress call during which they engaged a group of suspected bandits, who had robbed some houses in EYN Farm Centre, Kachalari in Maiduguri city.

He said during the shootout with the bandits, two were gunned down by the military and the others fled.
He revealed that three locally-made pistols, 15 rounds of assorted ammunition, four machetes and a telephone hand set were recovered from the bandits.