•Zulum orders crackdown on “Marlian” group at emergency security meeting
Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja
The Nigerian Air Force, yesterday, said several terrorists loyal to the notorious terrorists’ kingpin, Alhaji Nashama, were eliminated by air strikes undertaken by the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji (OPHD) at Alhaji Nashama’s enclave in Birnin Magaji Local Government Area (LGA) of Zamfara State.
This was as at least 21 herdsmen were reportedly killed by fighters of the Islamic State for the West African Province (ISWAP) in separate attacks in Borno State.
In another development, Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State, has directed security operatives to crack down a notorious “Marlian” group believed to be terrorising residents in some parts of Maiduguri and Jere within the metropolis.
A statement by the spokesman of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said the air strikes were carried out on the heels of credible and actionable intelligence reports that the terrorists were massing up at Tsamre in Birnin Magaji with the aim of attacking locals.
Accordingly, the fighter jets struck the location in successive passes, eliminating scores of terrorists as well as destroying their structures and enclave.
“Similar air strikes were also conducted on terrorists’ enclaves at Hanawanka in Shiroro LGA and Palele, a village on the borders of Shiroro and Munya LGAs of Niger State.
“This became necessary after intelligence had revealed a migration of terrorists from Katsina and Zamfara State who had come under intense heat from military onslaught,” it said.
In the North-east, air strikes were also conducted by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai at a terrorists’ hideout located about 1.5Km East of Arra in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.
Arra was once a well-known terrorists’ hideout near Sambisa Forest that was cleared of terrorists by the Land Component of Operation Hadin Kai.
It said the intelligence-driven strikes followed days and weeks of careful observation of the location, which had revealed suspected terrorists armed with various firearms, who used the covers of trees and other vegetations to hide their motorcycles and trucks to evade detection.
The statement said the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Hasan Abubakar, expressed delight with the heightened level of morale and commitment among NAF pilots and other support staff while also encouraging them to maintain the momentum.
Meanwhile, at least 21 herdsmen were reportedly killed by fighters of the Islamic State for West African Province (ISWAP) in separate attacks in Borno State.
It was gathered that the terrorists, who rode on 17 motorcycles attacked and killed 14 herdsmen in the axis of Kukawa in the evening of Tuesday 25, July 2023 after accusing them of trespassing.
ISWAP leadership had recently placed a ban on fishing, farming and cattle rearing within some of its hideouts after accusing the people of spying on them for the Nigerian military.
The terrorists were said to have beheaded many of the herdsmen.
“After killing the herdsmen and stealing their livestock, the insurgents moved towards the axis of Kukawa, Doro and Kalla, areas suspected to be occupied by large numbers of the terrorists.
“Consequently, on July 25, at about 2300hours, the terrorists in about seven gun trucks intercepted another Fulani herdsmen in the axis of Kukawa and killed six additional persons after warning them not to ever come to the area.
“Some of the remaining victims, who fled the scene were able to recover four bodies in the aftermath of the attacks leaving several bodies to litter in the bushes. On Monday July 24, 2023, ISWAP terrorists abducted about seven Fulani herdsmen in Monguno after sneaking to the town through the axis of Ajilari Charly 7,” the report said.
But Zulum, yesterday, in Maiduguri held an emergency security meeting at the Government House and thereafter, briefed journalists over the activities of the Marlian group.
The “Marlian” group, populated by youths associated with drug abuses, has gained notoriety for engaging in a wide range of criminal activities, such as extortion, robbery, drug and substance abuse, and acts of terrorism including the killing of security operatives.
Zulum said: “I have summoned this emergency security council meeting to address the emerging security threat that is bedevilling the Maiduguri metropolis and parts of Jere Local Government, with a view to coming up with additional implementable strategies to guarantee the needed peace and security.
“Intelligence reports before my office from different sources have indicated increasing activities of youth gangsterism operating in some parts of the state capital and Jere Local Government.
“This syndicate specialised not only on phone snatching in broad daylight, robbery and possession of locally made weapons, but has now graduated into the killing of innocent lives, including security operatives,” the governor declared.
Zulum, who was concerned about the escalating violence expressed government’s determination to restore peace and ensure the safety of all residents.
“I want to assure the general public that Government of Borno State, under my leadership will not allow such a matter to deteriorate. I have received assurances from the security operatives of their commitment to tame such dastardly acts and our administration is ever committed to dealing with such matters within the shortest possible time.”
