Fourteen suspected insurgents carrying out attacks in Nigeria were arrested in neighbouring Niger Republic by the country’s security personnel.
The insurgents were arrested in Shetimari local government in Diffa state in the West African country after they attacked a group of security personnel.
BBC Hausa Service reported yesterday that the men were
arrested in several locations in the state bordering Borno and Yobe states in north-eastern Nigeria.
It said the trouble started when security personnel went to the aid of a man who was attacked by gunmen and disposed of large sums of money and valuables, and on their way back the suspected Boko Haram members opened fire on them, following which a gun duel ensued.
In the course of the shootings, some of the suspects escaped and sneaked across the border into Nigeria.
But the Governor of Diffa state, Yakubu Sumana Gao, explained that the suspects seemed to be on a robbery mission, although they were found in possession of sophisticated weapons and many cellular phones.
BBC Hausa also reported that there was a heavy gun fight in the area up till 12 noon, which caused panic, but Niger Republic government officials from
Shetimari county insisted that the shooting took place around Komadugu River in Nigeria.
Security has been beefed up around the border with Nigeria.
In a related development, a resident of Wala village in Borno state said that his younger sister, who was scheduled to get married next week, was among the schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram sect on Sunday night along with his elder brother’s wife.
The man said, “My younger sister of same father and mother was forcefully abducted together with my elder brother’s wife. When the insurgents came in the early morning, they gathered all of us after we finished praying and we gathered all our foodstuff for them.
“They asked us how many of us are working for government, we said there is none. Then, they looked at one man and said is he not a teacher?
“He then denied but they dragged him to his house and collected all his foodstuff, after which they shot him. But God helped us he was just injured.
“My own sister’s wedding was coming up next week and they have abducted her. The girls they took were mostly aged 16 and 17.”
Source: Blueprint
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