A large group of Boko Haram terrorists have moved out of their base in North-East Nigeria to join forces with criminal gangs and bandits in the nNorth-West where they are engaged in weapons training and kidnapping, military sources told Agence France Presse (AFP) on Friday.

Boko Haram’s Islamic State-allied rivals have been consolidating their grip on the North-East after the reported death of Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, this year, in a major shift in Nigeria’s 12-year insurgency.

Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has been moving into Boko Haram’s territory, fighting Shekau loyalists, assimilating some or forcing others to surrender to the armed forces, security sources say.

Details of the Boko Haram fighters moving could be the latest sign of cooperation between jihadists and criminal armed groups in the northwest, who raid and loot villages and conduct mass abductions for ransom.

Two military sources said a faction loyal to Shekau based in Borno State had dispatched two commanders and 250 fighters to the Rijana forests in Kaduna State.

Both commanders are allied with Bakoura Buduma, a Boko Haram chief who remains loyal to Shekau and whose fighters are resisting ISWAP consolidation, according to security sources.

“They are the masterminds behind some of the abductions in the northwest,” one of the military sources said.

Both sources said Boko Haram militants were also training the gangs, known locally as bandits, in the use of anti-aircraft guns and explosives and other weapons.

A military spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment. Kaduna State officials also did not immediately reply to a request for confirmation.

A Nigerian security agency communique earlier this month had warned that a Boko Haram commander and foot soldiers were moving across the country from their base in Borno State to Kaduna State and other North-West states.

Analysts say there have been growing signs jihadists and bandit gangs are developing deeper ties where both stand to gain: Jihadists supply arms while profiting from criminal activity.

North-West Nigeria has long been plagued by the bandit groups, but this year, attacks and kidnappings have surged as the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic feeds criminality.

Criminal gangs have targetted schools in a series of high- profile mass abductions of students and pupils for ransom.

Attacks have also become more brazen. Last month armed criminals assaulted the country’s elite military college in Kaduna and kidnapped one officer while in June criminal gangs shot down an air force jet conducting operations on their camps.

Northwestern Zamfara State, neighbouring Kaduna, earlier this month began a military campaign against bandits and ordered a complete telecoms blackout in a bid to disrupt bandit communications.


https://tribuneonlineng.com/boko-haram-terrorists-now-training-bandits-in-kaduna-other-north-west-states-military-sources/

So what should Nigerians do Are you suppose to be telling us abiii by now una for don invade that Bandits training camp.

Before una invade ESN camp, we no see am for news oo....

Buhari is their commander in chief

Not surprised. Buhari is so soft on them, even a blind man sees the message.

but they have been defeated "technically"


buhari sure is giving new definition to many english word

chiiraq802:
So what should Nigerians do Are you suppose to be telling us abiii by now una for don invade that Bandits training camp.

Before una invade ESN camp, we no see am for news oo....

Abi oh!

A serving North west Governor is their commander in chief. That is why they are given preferential treatment over Southern seccessionist.

What is the military doing about it.

They are alerting ordinary civilians who are helpless and can't do nothing instead of them to quickly look for a way to counter the operation they are releasing press statement and putting the public in panic mode.

If it were to be gathering of peaceful protesters they would know how to swiftly move in and attack them.

It is so unfortunate

Useless Nigerian Military...kuku go & disband the camp nau, why telling us abi u want make we join ?
If una see civilians una go get power but common ragtag bandit with no training dey hard una to defeat.
Useless mufkerz in uniform.

I don't know why they are now hypemen for terrorists

You would never see a sensible military glorify terrorists like this because it's a disgrace

Tomorrow they would say Boko Haram is surrending the next minute another story

They just keep recycling the same story to keep the business booming and on the frontburner.

Name the sponsors. Mba

Remove the sympathizers from having access to govt. Oti o

Instead new tales everyday.

Bandits are a business conglomerate.

And the shareholders appear on our TV everyday.

End of story

Na today? they are looking for way to accept with us that their bandits are boko haram vese two, and all of them are same same in their operation as we know.

Every sane Nigerian knows Boko Haram and bandits are one and the same

Shebi the Nigerian army say dem no fit name them BH terrorists sponsors them? So who are you telling this info? See as the clueless but vindictive army just wawa themselves if this intel is true.

Imagine, these treasonable elements invading the NDA to kill its officer.Also learnt these terrorists are laying siege around the Jaji area & environs.Anyway, it is glaring to sane people that bandits, Boko Haram /fulani terrorists and the Nigerian army all share the same C-in-C.It is just a case of uniform(official) and non-uniform terrorists.

they are preparing the next terror group to destabilize the next president coming from south as they did with GEJ