Motorists have been warned by the Theatre Commander, Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Olusegun Adeniyi, against stopping at irregular security check points on the Maiduguri-Damaturu road.
Adeniyi, who stated this on Monday in Maiduguri, said that intelligence reports indicate that Boko Haram elements were mounting road blocks and attacking motorists on the road.
He listed the designated check points to include Njimtilo, Auno, Jakana, Ngamdu and Kukareta.
Adeniyi said the road was secure as the military had intensified patrols and deployed additional personnel to guarantee the safety of road users.
According to him, the new measures had denied the insurgents freedom to attack commuters as well as villages along the highway.
“The problem is that Boko Haram insurgents dressed in Nigeria army stolen uniforms, having painted Hilux in Nigeria army special camouflage colours, stop some vehicles and abduct innocent Nigerians.
“So between Maiduguri and Damaturu, I have ordered that no checking of persons except at recognised checkpoints inside Auno, Jakana, Minok, Banishaik, Ngamdu, Kukareta.
“Those checkpoints have been there for years and they do not even check individuals, they just make sure Boko Haram do not sneak terrorists and IED-laden vehicles into the two cities.
“So if anybody is being asked to stop in between these towns, they should be very careful. Several soldiers and other security personnel are on that road 24 hours,” he said.
Adeniyi said that the command had launched several military operations along the road to rout the insurgents hiding around the highway to cause havoc.
“Other military operations were carried out on the road and several kilometers away from the road. More resources are being put on that road because we realise how vital that road is to all Nigerians,” he said.
The theatre commander said that the insurgents had adopted the ISIS style of winning the minds and hearts of the civil populace by not attacking them in most cases with a view to set up a caliphate.
“When they enter villages, they will tell them (people) not to run, that they should cool down that they are not there to harm them. They are doing this in hope that they are going to form whatever geographical entity that also run a fake state like ISIS.”
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