Military bombs Boko Haram base, silent on 20 passengers’ abduction

This is just as the Defence Headquarters, Abuja, said it was not aware of Boko Haram’s reported abduction of 20 bus passengers who were travelling from Maiduguri to Gwoza area on Wednesday. The Director, Defence Information, Brig. Gen. John Agim, told our correspondent on Thursday that he did not have any information on the incident. It was reported on Thursday that some gunmen, suspected to be Boko Haram insurgents, abducted no fewer than 20 people from a bus heading for Gwoza. Although the army has yet to speak on the abduction, some family members and military sources have confirmed the incident, noting that at least 10 of the passengers were abducted by the insurgents. The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Texas Chukwu, could not be reached for comment on Thursday as his line rang out. The DHQ’s spokesman, Agim, said he had no information on the incident. “I am not aware. Maybe you talk to the army,” he said. The air force said on Wednesday that its jets bombed the Boko Haram communications and logistics base in Tumbun Rego was part of Operation Thunder Strike 2, which began on Monday. The NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, who confirmed the bombing of the insurgents’ bases, said it was carried out by the Air Task Force of the Operation Lafiya Dole. He said, “The operation is targeted at terror locations in the Lake Chad and Sambisa Forest in Borno State. Air strikes were carried out in Tumbun Rego, Sabon Tumbun and Tumbun Allura. “Tumbun Rego, which is located about 140km North-East of Maiduguri, has been identified as a major logistics and communications base of the insurgents. “Accordingly, the air force detailed F-7Ni and Alpha Jet aircraft to destroy the logistics and communications hubs. The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Abubakar, was also in Maiduguri, where he motivated the front-line personnel and obtained first-hand information on the operation.”]]>