Fleeing terrorists arrested in Borno State

news24

Abuja - Soldiers have reportedly arrested about 50 fleeing members of the Boko Haram sect in Biu, Borno State.

Security sources revealed that the insurgents hid under a truck and were heading to Gombe State.

A security source told journalists in Maiduguri, the state capital, the arrested men were currently in the custody of the Nigerian Army and might have been detained at the Biu barrack.

The source said some youth vigilante in Biu suspected the truck carrying sheep and goats might have hidden other wares.

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The suspicion made them to thoroughly search the vehicle and they discovered some 50 young men hiding underneath.

He said the arrested men confessed to being fighters of the Islamic sect and were all on the run following the reported killing of their leader, Abubakar Shekau, in the confrontation of the sect with the military at Konduga last week.

According to the source, the suspects were pleading for mercy and promised to cooperate with security operatives by giving them useful information on the whereabouts of other sect members as well as other group holding the Chibok girls.

He said most of the suspects were between the ages of 18 and 25 and speaking Kanuri and Hausa.

“The men confessed to have been in the army of the insurgency group that fought at Bama and Konduga where they were overwhelmed. They claimed that the members of the sect are now in disarray after the killing of their spiritual and military leader of the sect, Shiekh Abubakar Shekau,” added the source.