The government of Niger State in north-central Nigeria has said it has arrested nine persons, including a medical doctor, for being Boko Haram informants.
Abdulberqy Ebbo, the director-general of strategic operations, ICT and public enlightenment unit at the Niger State Government House, claimed the men confessed to revealing the movements of troops to Boko Haram fighters.
“One of the 9 arrested bandits’ informants in Niger state is a medical doctor, they’ve also confessed to leaking information on troops movements to bandits,” Ebbo said.
Boko Haram insurgents have been carrying out a campaign of terror in Nigeria’s northeast for over two decades.
Although Boko Haram insurgents have been largely confined to the northeast, Niger State has been seeing an uptick in the activities of the terror in recent months.
At least 27 students of Government Science College (GSC) Kagara and 14 others including teachers were abducted when armed bandits attacked their school in February.
Tens of people have also killed or kidnapped in the state by gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram fighters.
The governor of the state Sani Bello said on Monday evening that the terror group has hoisted its flag in parts of the state.
Bello said at least 50m communities are under the control of the group. He said he feared the group may want to establish a base in the state.
“They’ve taken over the territory, they’ve installed their flag,” Bello said. “I am confirming that now. They’ve taken over the wives of people by force”, he said.
“Boko Haram elements are trying to use these areas as their home just like they did in Sambisa.”
The presence of Boko Haram in the state portends danger for Abuja, Nigeria’s capital. The group had carried multiple attacks in the city before President Muhammadu Buhari came into power in May 2015.
A despondent Bello said the Nigerian Government has not offered any help and that he would not wait for it to come.
“I have not lost hope from the federal government, but I am not waiting for anyone anymore,” he said.
