Nigerian troops capture wanted Boko Haram terrorist, arrest IDP with N1.9 million

The Nigerian Army says its troops have captured a wanted Boko Haram leader, Sulaiman Umaru.

The acting Director Army Public Relations, Sani Usman, said in a statement released on Saturday that the wanted terrorist, Mr. Umaru, was arrested at about 1.35pm on Friday, deep inside Sambisa forest, by troops from 143 Battalion.

The army said Mr. Umaru’s photograph was on the poster containing the photographs of the 100 Boko Haram terrorists declared wanted by the military.

The captured Boko Haram leader has been moved to 28 Task Force Brigade Headquarters investigation, the army said.

The army also disclosed that N1.9 million was found on an Internally Displaced Person (IDP), Abacha Bulama, in Borno State, when troops from 22 Task Force Brigade Garrison, in conjunction with 112 Task Force Battalion, intercepted and screened 31 IDPs, including women and children coming from Sunabaya, Gumule, Garno and Mane-Gana villages.

The army said Mr. Bulama’s claim of being a businessman couldn’t remove the suspicion on why he carried about such a huge amount of money.

He has been detained for further investigation, while other IDPs have been handed over to Dikwa IDP Camp Manager for screening and further humanitarian assistance, the army said.

Meanwhile, the army said the troops from 22 Task Force Brigade Garrison ran into an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at Antul, a village south east of Dikwa.

Seven soldiers were said to have been injured in the incident, while four fighters from the Civilian JTF who accompanied the troops also sustained injuries.

The injured soldiers and their civilian counterparts have been evacuated to 7 Division Hospital and Medical Services, Maiduguri, the army said.

The army said the troops killed two Boko Haram terrorists, and recovered two AK-47 rifles from them.