Nigerian army arrests Boko Haram's "food suppliers"

Nigerian army said on Wednesday that its troops have arrested 33 "suspected food suppliers of Boko Haram terrorists" in an operation carried out in the northeast region of the country.

The Boko Haram's associates were arrested during intensive patrols by troops, with large quantity of food stuff meant for Boko Haram terrorists in Damboa axis of the northern Borno State, a statement signed by army spokesman, Col. Sani Usman, said.

"Although some of the suspects claimed to be traders, they did not, however, deny buying and selling food items to the terrorists," the army statement said, adding interrogation has been launched to further unravel the level of involvement of the suspects.

Meanwhile, troops have cleared more Boko Haram hideouts and successfully destroyed some improvised explosive devices planted by the terrorists at Sandia village located near Damboa district of the restive Borno State, the army said.

The Nigerian army said more men, women and children were also rescued from the terrorists in Bama axis of the same state, noting the rescued persons were part of those abducted by Boko Haram fighters who had earlier occupied the area.

The Nigerian troops had recorded similar triumph over Boko Haram on Tuesday when freeing a dozen of women and children earlier kidnapped by the insurgents in the northeast region of the country.

At a press briefing in the Nigerian capital Abuja on Tuesday, spokesman of the defense headquarters, Col. Rabe Abubakar said the brilliant coordination between the air element of the Nigerian Air Force and the ground troops of the army has uprooted the Boko Haram insurgents from their strongholds, including their several camps in Sambisa Forest situated in the northern Borno State.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered military chiefs of the West African country to crush the terror group latest by December. Endit