Troops apprehend Nigerian syndicate supplying fuel to Ambazonian rebels for terrorism activities in Taraba state

In a significant covert operation driven by actionable intelligence and extensive surveillance, troops of the Nigerian Army deployed for Counter-terrorism operations along the Nigeria-Cameroon Border in Taraba State have successfully intercepted and apprehended 8 members of a syndicate that specializes in smuggling fuel from Nigeria to the Ambazonian rebels in the Republic of Cameroon to facilitate terrorists’ activities. 

The Army in a statement on Friday, May 24, 2024, said the sting operation took place on Friday 24 May 2024 along the Abong-Kurmi Baissa Road in Taraba State, between Nigeria and Cameroon border.

The suspects, identified as Jafaru Adamu (32 years), Auwal Haruna (34 years), Umar Dahiru, Mubarak Abdullahi (20 years), Saidu Musa (26 years), Bashiru Ibrahim (18 years), Danlami Yahuaza (19 years), and Abubakar Abdullahi (19 years), were caught en route the border with a large quantity of fuel. 

During preliminary investigation, the culprits confessed to smuggling and selling fuel to the Cameroonian Ambazonian rebels, who are prohibited from entering Nigeria to purchase the product directly.

The suspects revealed that they had previously bought fuel from Gassol and Bali Local Government Areas (LGA) at the rate of N950 per litre. However, they discovered that in Takum LGA the fuel was sold at N800 per litre, prompting them to source the product in Takum.

At the time of their arrest, the suspects were travelling in three J5 vehicles, carrying 605 jerry cans, each with a capacity of 40 litres, totalling 24,200 litres of fuel. The fuel, valued at N800 per litre, amounts to a total worth of Nineteen Million Three Hundred and Sixty Thousand Naira (N19,360,000) only.

Further investigation led to the identification of other members of the smuggling syndicate, including Alhaji Abdulmumini, Jafaru Adamu, Babilu Zubairu, Sule Abong, and Mark Akawu, who is reportedly the chairman of the syndicate based in Abong, a border community between Kurmi LGA of Taraba State and the Republic of Cameroon.

“This operation marks a significant step in curbing the illegal supply of resources to terrorist groups and enhancing regional security,” the statement added.