By David Atangana
The Nigerian army has uncovered a network that reportedly supplies fuel to Ambazonia separatists in Cameroon’s English-speaking Regions.
According to a statement from the Nigerian army, eight members of the network were intercepted and arrested in an army operation on May 25 along the Abong-Kurmi Baissa Road in Taraba State, near the Cameroon border.
The suspects identified as Jafaru Adamu, 32; Auwal Haruna, 34; Umar Dahiru; Mubarak Abdullahi, 20; Saidu Musa, 26; Bashiru Ibrahim, 18; Danlami Yahuaza, 19; and Abubakar Abdullahi (19), were caught on their way to the border with a large quantity of fuel.
“The culprits confessed to smuggling and selling fuel to the Cameroonian Ambazonia rebels who are prohibited from entering Nigeria to purchase the product directly following preliminary investigation,” the army said.
“The suspects were traveling in three J5 vehicles, carrying 605 jerry cans, each with a capacity of 40 liters, totaling 24,200 liters of fuel. The fuel, valued at ₦800 per liter, amounts to a total worth of Nineteen Million Three Hundred and Sixty Thousand Naira (₦19,360,000) only.”
Further investigations led to the identification of other members of the smuggling syndicate, including Alhaji Abdulmumini, Jafaru Adamu, Babilu Zubairu, Sule Abong, and Mark Akawu.
Akawa is reported to be heading the syndicate based in Abong, a border community between Kurmi LGA of Taraba State and the Republic of Cameroon.
The Cameroon and Nigerian militaries are jointly fighting against Boko Haram insurgents along their Northern borders as well as separatists operating along the southern borders.
