The Nigerian army on Tuesday, intercepted a large consignment of petroleum products being ferried by two suspected persons to Boko Haram insurgents in some yet-to-be identified locations, officials said.
The two suspects, the driver of the delivery truck, Muhammadu Adamu, and the supplier of the products, Tijjani Gambo, claimed ignorance of the identity of their customers.
The acting director of Army Public Relations, Sani Usman, said regardless of the outcome of investigations into the matter, the suspects had by their actions flouted the ban on transportation of fuel in such large volume within and around the area where counter-insurgency operation is taking place.
“The Quick Reinforcement Force (QRF) of 251 Battalion, 7 Div Gar on routine checks arrested a truck loaded with 25 jerry cans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and other goods cleverly covered and concealed at Molai check point, outskirts of Maiduguri at about 8.00am on Tuesday,” said Mr. Usman in a statement.
“The driver of the vehicle, Muhammadu Adamu, claimed ignorance of the contents of the vehicle and called the owner of the goods, Tijjani Gambo to explain. He too denied supplying terrorists fuel and other items, rather he claimed to be a mere trader that supplies goods to customers in Damboa based on demand.
“However, preliminary investigation revealed that he has been sending PMS and other goods through the same route at regular intervals without an identifiable corresponding recipient in Damboa as alleged. Although investigations are still ongoing, it is suspected that it could be the means through which he had been supplying the terrorists with dire logistics in Sambisa forest.
“Both suspects and the exhibits have been handed over to Joint Interrogation Centre for further investigations.
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