Boko Haram Terrorists Kidnap Passengers Along Maiduguri-Kano Highway

Some passengers travelling along the Maiduguri/Kano highway have been kidnapped by suspected Boko Haram insurgents. Reports obtained on Tuesday morning revealed that the insurgents carried out the abduction between Garin Kuturu and Mannanari village near Auno, which is located along the Damaturu highway, at approximately 5:50 pm on Monday. Daily Trust quoted a source to have disclosed that the terrorists barricaded the highway and forcibly took away several passengers. As a result of this incident, numerous travellers and commuters found themselves stranded on both ends of the usually bustling road. Consequently, many of the commuters were left with no choice but to return to Benishek and Auno, respectively. “There was an incident between Mannanari and Garin Kuturu where some Boko Haram fighters came out to block the upcoming vehicles and some passengers were abducted. “We are not sure of the number as we speak but certainly there was an abduction on Monday evening,” the source noted. Some residents who spoke to journalists on the development narrated how many commercial drivers took refuge in their community momentarily when the insurgents were operating between Garin Kuturu and Mannanari villages. “They came out with three wheelbarrow and I believe they were looking for food stuff. We don’t know how many people abducted but some commercial drivers came back and later returned to Maiduguri before reinforcement of military arrived,” the residents noted. A passenger, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told reporters that he, alongside others were stranded for hours. “We were heading for Kano from Maiduguri when the driver got hinted about the attack and took a detour. “We have been waiting for the military to clear the road but we don’t know when. We are stranded here,” he said.

Military releases slain terrorist commanders’ names

The Defence Headquarters, on Thursday released the names of terrorist kingpins killed during different operations in the northern part of the country. The DHQ noted that the terrorist commanders were killed in separate operations between January and March 2024. The names of the terrorist kingpins are Abu Bilal Minuki (aka Abubakar Mainok) – Head of Is-Al Furqan Province (ISGS and ISWAP) and Haruna Isiya Boderi. He was a notorious terrorist who operated along Birnin Gwari Forest in Kaduna State as well as the Abuja Kaduna Highway. He was killed by troops on 21 Feb 24. Others are Kachallah Damina (Neutralised on March 24 by troops. He was neutralised alongside over 50 combatants), Kachallah Alhaji Dayi, Kachallah Idi (Namaidaro), Kachallah Kabiru (Doka), Kachallah Azarailu (Farin-Ruwa), Kachallah Balejo, Ubangida, Alhaji Baldu among several others. The Director Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, revealed the names to journalists during a briefing in Abuja. He added that a total of 2,351 terrorists were killed while 2,308 were arrested and 1,241 kidnapped hostages were rescued during the period under review.

FG takes over the trial of alleged 4 terrorists who kidnapped and killed Imo monarch

The federal government has taken over the prosecution of four suspected terrorists who allegedly kidnapped and killed the traditional ruler of Amanze Obowo Autonomous Community of Imo State, Eze Basil Njoku. The four defendants are Jude Iheme and Chika Madukwe, Nwokorie Chidiebere Ejike, and Victor Nwajuiba Obumneke were earlier slammed a three count charge which has been increased to five in the amended charges. At the resumed proceeding at the Federal High Court, Abuja, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, announced the taking over of the trial from the Inspector General of Police The AGF, through his counsel, David Kaswe, invoked section 174 of the 1999 Constitution and 105 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 to assume trial of the terrorism charges. Consequently, he pleaded with the court to put off the arraignment until another date to enable him to study the case file. He said that the Inspector General of Police has already been directed to make the case file available to the Federal Ministry of Justice for approximate action by the AGF. Meantime, April 15 has been fixed for the re-arraignment of the defendants on the amended charge. Iheme, 52 years of Amagwu Amanze Obowo local government area of Imo and Madukwe, 42 years of Ndi-Uche Etiti Omuimo local government area also of Imo State, were said to have killed the traditional ruler on December 17, 2022. The defendants were accused of killing the monarch while coming from the Federal Medical Center, Umuahia, after kidnapping and collecting a ransom of N4 million cash from his family. In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/575/2024, Iheme and Madukwe alongside others said to be at large were said to have conspired to commit felony to wit, acts of terrorism contrary to section 26 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022. They were also said to have armed themselves with guns and offensive weapons, attacked, kidnapped, and killed the monarch on December 17, 2022. The IGP also accused them of failing to volunteer information at their disposal to security agencies, which could have led to apprehension of other kidnappers contrary to section 16 of the same Terrorism Act. Part of the charge read “That you Nwokorie Chidiebere Ejike, 45 years ago and Victor Nwajuiba Obumneke, 39 years all of Ehume in Obowo LGA of Imo State between June to August 2023 at Zone 9 Police Headquarters at Umuahia and Special Tactical Squad, Abuja during the police investigation of offence of kidnapping and terrorism of the Royal Eze, Basil Njoku conspired and brought false accusations with internt to cause Nwigwe Emeka Williams to be charged with kidnapping and terrorism of Eze Basil Njoku, you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 125 of the Criminal Code Act. “That you Nwokorie Chidiebere Ejike, 45 years and Victor Nwajuiba Obumneke, 39 years all of Ehume in Obowo LGA of Imo State between June to August 2023 at Zone 9 Police Headquarters at Umuahia and Special Tactical Squad, Abuja with intent to mislead the police investigators in the case of kidnap and terrorism of Eze Basil Njoku, you gave false information to the investigators that a drunk man informed you that Nwigwe Emeka Williams is responsible for the kidnap and terrorism of Eze Basil Njoku Knowing or having reason to know that information you gave to police investigators is false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 125 of the Criminal Code Act 2004. “That you Nwokorie Chidiebere Ejike, 45 years ago and Victor Nwajuiba Obumneke, 39 years all of Ehume in Obowo LGA of Imo State between June to August 2023 at Zone 9 Police Headquarters at Umuahia and Special Tactical Squad, Abuja during the police investigation of offence of kidnapping and terrorism of the Royal Eze, Basil Njoku conspired and brought false accusations with internt to cause Nwigwe Emeka Williams to be charged with kidnapping and terrorism of Eze Basil Njoku, you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 125 of the Criminal Code Act.