Boko Haram: Troops Arrest Three More Suspected Female Operatives
Posted by: Yusuf Alli
The Nation, Nigeria
•Lay siege to Sambisa Forest routes
Ghe Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday said that troops have arrested three suspected female terrorists allegedly recruiting ladies for the female wing of Boko Haram.
The three suspects were named as Hafsat Usman Bako, Zainab Idris and Aisha Abubakar.
The DHQ, which made the claim in a statement signed on behalf of the Director of Defence Information by Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, said the suspects were intercepted on their way to the dreaded Sambisa Forest.
The statement said: “In the aftermath of the failed suicide bombing attempt on a military facility by a female terrorist who blew herself up in Gombe recently, troops have arrested three suspected female terrorists who have been secretly recruiting ladies into the female wing of the terrorists group.
“The suspects, Hafsat Usman Bako, Zainab Idris and Aisha Abubakar, were intercepted while travelling to Madagali from where they were to transit to the forest to reunite with their cohorts.
“Investigations revealed that the suspects, led by Hafsat Bako, have the mission to recruit members into the female wing as well as conduct espionage for the group.
“Hafsat’s link with the terrorists group had earlier been a subject of investigation in 2012, when security agents on a manhunt for one Usman Bako, her husband who was identified as a terrorist, stormed their residence in Jimeta.
“This resulted in the discovery of an AK 47 rifle and two loaded magazines. Though Usman Bako later died in an encounter with troops in Sokoto where he had relocated to continue his terrorist activities, Hafsat continued with the terror group specialising in surreptitious recruitment of members into their fold.”
The statement said the suspects specialised in hiring widows and young girls under the guise of marrying them off to good homes.
The statement added: “The arrested three suspects were luring ladies, especially widows and young girls, by enticing them with male suitors who are mainly members of their terror group for marriage.
“Before their arrest, they were on a mission to take additional briefing from the leadership of the terror group.
“The three suspects have been operating together as members of the intelligence team of the group. Their arrest has yielded information still being verified by security agencies.”
A reliable military source, who spoke in confidence, said as part of the “proposed final onslaught against Boko Haram by the military, troops have been mobilised to all routes leading to Sambisa Forest.
“Coded as frontline zones, the siege on the routes had enabled the troops to arrest one of the masterminds of the abduction of the 223 Chibok girls, Businessman Babuji Ya’ari, and two women serving as spies for Boko Haram, Hafsat Bako and Haj Kaka. These three were actually going to Sambisa Forest.
“The strategy is to embark on pre-emptive steps to limit link with Boko Haram.”
Responding to a question, the source added: “We are ready to take the battle to Sambisa Forest.
But we want to avoid as much collateral damage as possible. Our real mission is to liberate the abducted girls alive.”
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| Photographs of women said to be suspects in Boko Haram attacks. |
The Nation, Nigeria
•Lay siege to Sambisa Forest routes
Ghe Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday said that troops have arrested three suspected female terrorists allegedly recruiting ladies for the female wing of Boko Haram.
The three suspects were named as Hafsat Usman Bako, Zainab Idris and Aisha Abubakar.
The DHQ, which made the claim in a statement signed on behalf of the Director of Defence Information by Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, said the suspects were intercepted on their way to the dreaded Sambisa Forest.
The statement said: “In the aftermath of the failed suicide bombing attempt on a military facility by a female terrorist who blew herself up in Gombe recently, troops have arrested three suspected female terrorists who have been secretly recruiting ladies into the female wing of the terrorists group.
“The suspects, Hafsat Usman Bako, Zainab Idris and Aisha Abubakar, were intercepted while travelling to Madagali from where they were to transit to the forest to reunite with their cohorts.
“Investigations revealed that the suspects, led by Hafsat Bako, have the mission to recruit members into the female wing as well as conduct espionage for the group.
“Hafsat’s link with the terrorists group had earlier been a subject of investigation in 2012, when security agents on a manhunt for one Usman Bako, her husband who was identified as a terrorist, stormed their residence in Jimeta.
“This resulted in the discovery of an AK 47 rifle and two loaded magazines. Though Usman Bako later died in an encounter with troops in Sokoto where he had relocated to continue his terrorist activities, Hafsat continued with the terror group specialising in surreptitious recruitment of members into their fold.”
The statement said the suspects specialised in hiring widows and young girls under the guise of marrying them off to good homes.
The statement added: “The arrested three suspects were luring ladies, especially widows and young girls, by enticing them with male suitors who are mainly members of their terror group for marriage.
“Before their arrest, they were on a mission to take additional briefing from the leadership of the terror group.
“The three suspects have been operating together as members of the intelligence team of the group. Their arrest has yielded information still being verified by security agencies.”
A reliable military source, who spoke in confidence, said as part of the “proposed final onslaught against Boko Haram by the military, troops have been mobilised to all routes leading to Sambisa Forest.
“Coded as frontline zones, the siege on the routes had enabled the troops to arrest one of the masterminds of the abduction of the 223 Chibok girls, Businessman Babuji Ya’ari, and two women serving as spies for Boko Haram, Hafsat Bako and Haj Kaka. These three were actually going to Sambisa Forest.
“The strategy is to embark on pre-emptive steps to limit link with Boko Haram.”
Responding to a question, the source added: “We are ready to take the battle to Sambisa Forest.
But we want to avoid as much collateral damage as possible. Our real mission is to liberate the abducted girls alive.”
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