Ex-colonel Who Led Yobe Boko-haram Attacks Arrested -

A retired lieutenant colonel, who
was said to have led the Boko Haram
attacks on Damaturu, Yobe State, on
Thursday was arrested by security
forces during the encounter.
The retired army officer is being
detained at a military facility.
It could not be ascertained as of the
time of filing this report if he has
been moved to Abuja for
interrogation or not.
The Director of Army Public
Relations, Brig. Gen. Ibrahim, had
put the casualty figure on the part of
the insurgents at 70 in a statement
that was silent on the number of
soldiers killed in the attack.
It was however, learnt that nine
soldiers including a lieutenant and
four policemen lost their lives in the
attack.
“The retired lieutenant colonel was
properly discharged from the Army
and it was a big surprise when he
was arrested and identified by those
who knew him as a former officer,”
an Army source said.
It was further learnt that the attack
on security formations in Damaturu
was to avenge the seizure of a truck
containing military uniforms and
arms by security forces.
The truck was seized last week when
the driver objected to a search of
the vehicle and he tendered a memo
purportedly from the Defence
Headquarters directing that the
truck should not be searched.
The driver and other passengers
were detained and the truck was
impounded and parked at the Police
Area Command, Guija Road,
Damaturu, when the army
camouflage and weapons were
found inside it.
SUNDAY PUNCH further gathered
that members of the sect are
holding a medical doctor who was
abducted while on duty at the Sani
Abacha Hospital during the Thursday
attack.
They also carted away drugs that
were in the pharmacy of the medical
facility and took away two
ambulances belonging to the
Damaturu General Hospital.
Security operatives are said to be
looking for the doctor who is feared
to have been taken to one of the
enclaves of the sect in the North-
East.
A security source said on Saturday
that the Boko Haram members might
have taken away the drugs for the
purpose of giving medication to
injured fighters of the group while
the medical doctor might have been
seized for the purpose of rendering
medication to their injured
members.
Meanwhile, the military on Saturday
relaxed the 24 hours curfew
imposed on Yobe State to nine
hours.
When our correspondent contacted
the Director of Defence Information,
Brig. Gen. Chris Olukolade, he said,
“Whatever you call it, we are capable
of dealing with it decisively.
“We will continue to do the required
adjustment both in approach and
structure to respond appropriately
and ensure that our duty to defend
the country and the citizenry is
discharged effectively.”

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