Nigerian Military Threatens People Hiding Information About Boko Haram

Authorities at the headquarters of Operation Lafiya Dole, a military
counterinsurgency outfit in North-east Nigeria, Thursday, threatened to
treat civilians who hide useful information about Boko Haram as
terrorists.

According to a statement signed by the spokesman of
counterinsurgency operation, Onyema Nwachukwu, the military “would not
be kind” to those who were aware of clandestine movements of Boko Haram
into communities around Maiduguri and fail to report such to the
relevant security authorities.

Mr Nwachukwu, an army colonel,
said the military has credible information that Boko Haram are moving
into communities to “indoctrinate, recruit fresh members and asking
others to vacate their homes”.

“There is credible information and
evidence that in a bid to further intensify their psychological war and
instil fear on the citizens, some elements of Boko Haram terrorists
have infiltrated some villages in the fringes of Maiduguri city,” said
Mr Nwachukwu, a deputy director, army public relations.

“They (Boko Haram) have clandestinely been going about threatening innocent residents, warning them to vacate their homes.

“So
far, out of fear, several inhabitants have moved out of their ancestral
homes. Consequently, we wish to inform all well meaning citizens,
especially within Maiduguri metropolis and its environs to promptly
report the presence of suspicious persons or avail the security agencies
of information about such persons.

“Failure to report will be
viewed seriously as it is tantamount to collaboration with the Boko
Haram terrorists. Such compromising persons when found will be treated
like the terrorists.

“Members of the public are enjoined to
please cooperate and support ongoing operations to weed out the
infiltrating terrorists and their sympathisers.”

Yesterday, the
military had, in the wake of fresh attacks in communities around
Maiduguri, shut down the Maiduguri-Kano highway from Maiduguri up to
Potiskum for about seven hours, as troops led by special forces
conducted a search in communities along the 235km road where Boko Haram
had been carrying out attacks.