Nigerian army blocks firewood traders in restive NE state

LAGOS, JAN 14 — Nigerian army on Sunday confirmed the ban imposed on the supply of firewood and charcoal in restive northeast state of Borno.
Bulama Biu, the acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, who made the disclosure in Maiduguri, the state capital, said the army uncovered Boko Haram logistics supply syndicates among loggers and charcoal dealers in Borno.

He added that intelligence report indicated that some dealers in Maiduguri were using the guise of firewood trade to aid the insurgents.
He said some of them are errand boys of the Boko Haram insurgents, noting that they hide food items, drugs, petrol and other items beneath their trucks, and supplied them to the terrorists.

“We also found out that some of them are running businesses on behalf of the Boko Haram insurgents,” the army chief added, noting that they go deep into the forest where ordinary people could not venture, to cut down trees, burn and produce charcoal.

“This could not be possible except they are in agreement with the insurgents,” he added.
“We arrested some of them and they made quite revealing testimonies, we shall fish them out to put an end to their nefarious activities,” he said.

Biu told reporters that the ban was temporarily designed to checkmate activities of criminal elements among the dealers and not to make life difficult for firewood and charcoal users.

He said the military had allowed suppliers from other states such as Oyo, Kano, Katsina, Niger and Kaduna to supply their goods under strict supervision of the army command.
Biu called on the people to support the military and other security agencies to end insurgency as well as protect lives and property. – XINHUA