Troops thwart Terrorists’ extortion plot in Yobe

Troops of Sector 2, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have disrupted an alleged attempt by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists to extort money from residents in parts of Yobe State.
The military said the operation was launched after intelligence indicated that suspected insurgents were moving in two Volkswagen Golf cars and on motorcycles to collect illegal levies from communities.
In a statement issued in Maiduguri by the Acting Military Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Mohammed Goni, troops from the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bukarti, supported by the 27 Task Force Brigade, carried out a fighting patrol along the Paya Kafiya axis on July 19.

According to the statement, the troops intercepted the suspects and engaged them in a gun battle.

The military said one of the Volkswagen Golf vehicles used by the suspects was disabled during the encounter, while its driver was killed. Four other suspected terrorists reportedly escaped into nearby bushes after sustaining gunshot injuries, leaving the vehicle behind.

Capt. Goni said troops later conducted exploitation operations along the Paya Kafiya–Garin Gada route, where they recovered the abandoned vehicle and several items believed to be linked to the group’s operations.

The recovered items included 25 rounds of belted PKT ammunition, a loaded AK-47 magazine, 15 spent PKT ammunition links, assorted medications, nicotine products and mechanical tools suspected to have been used to support the insurgents’ activities.

The military said the operation forms part of ongoing efforts to disrupt terrorist supply chains and cut off sources of funding for insurgent groups operating in the North-East.