Fresh facts have emerged on how troops of the Operation Hadin kai arrested five suspected terrorists’ logistics suppliers transporting cartons of medical supplies to insurgents in Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State.

The Army said the suspects were arrested during a routine security operation conducted at about 1:30 p.m. on 20 July in the local government .

In a statement on Wednesday, the Acting Military Information Officer Northeast Joint Taskforce Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Muhammed Goni said the operation conducted by troops of 112 Task Force Battalion in conjunction with Hybrid Forces disrupted the suspected terrorists’ logistics network.

The statement in parts narrated that “the suspects were intercepted while transporting 491 cartons of Albe Stark 2.5 per cent dewormer and 100 cartons of multivitamin injections for animals without the requisite waybill or supporting documentation.”

According to him, a thorough search of the vehicles further uncovered concealed medical supplies that included 32 cartons of Diclofenac Sodium Injection, 58 cartons of Benzylpenicillin Sodium BP, 6 cartons of Dexamethasone Injection, and 51 cartons of Metronidazole Intravenous Infusion.

“Troops also recovered 30 units of 80-inch LG plasma televisions, 152 empty Bagco sacks, and seven mobile phones,” Captain Goni added.

Preliminary investigations, he said, revealed that the consignment was being couriered to a vendor in N’Djamena, Chad Republic, while part of the concealed medical supplies was to be trans-loaded into another truck near the Nigeria–Chad border in an apparent attempt to conceal the movement of the consignment and evade security checks.

“The suspects are currently in the custody of 24 Task Force Brigade for further investigations” he stated.

The interception according to him, represented another significant breakthrough in Operation HADIN KAI’s sustained efforts to dismantle terrorist logistics and support networks across the North East.

“By disrupting suspicious supply chains and intercepting materials before they reach their intended destination, troops continue to deny terrorist elements the resources required to sustain their activities, thereby degrading their operational capability and restricting their freedom of action,” Goni stressed.

However, the top military officer reassured the public that troops remain resolute in identifying and dismantling all networks that directly or indirectly support terrorists’ activities.

“Pharmaceutical distributors, transporters, healthcare providers, humanitarian organisations, and other stakeholders are advised to ensure that all bulk medical, pharmaceutical, and agrochemical consignments are properly documented and, where necessary, coordinated with the appropriate military authorities before movement within the North East Theater,” he warned.

According to the army spokesman, the measure is intended to facilitate legitimate commercial and humanitarian activities while preventing the exploitation of supply chains by terrorist elements.

“Operation HADIN KAI further urges members of the public to remain vigilant and continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies.

“Such cooperation remains vital to disrupting terrorist logistics networks, supporting ongoing military operations, and consolidating lasting peace, security, and stability across the North East,” the statement concluded. (Punch News)

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