The Nigerian Army on Thursday, July 23, said a citizen of Niger Republic who was seen inside a forest used by terrorist elements for movement of logistics in the Lake Chad region has been discovered to be a mere camel rearer and not a terrorist.
The Nigerian Army disclosed this in a statement, saying the clarification became necessary after the man was arrested and taken into custody when he was found by troops of 68 Battalion during an exploitation operation following the attack at Cross Kauwa.
The army said after the man’s profiling, he was identified as Aboubakar Muhammad Zein-Nur, also known as Houdairi, adding that he was taken into custody for further investigation after his arrest in accordance with established operational procedures.
It added that comprehensive intelligence assessments and other investigative processes did not establish that the individual has any affiliation to any known terrorist group while more investigations further confirmed that he is a resident of Shattu Anguba Village in Bosso, Republic of Niger who engages in camel rearing beyond the River Komadougou, the river that empties into Lake Chad.
“Operation HADIN KAI has consequently cleared the individual of any terrorist links. The Theatre Command reiterates that all persons intercepted under suspicious circumstances during military operations are subjected to due process and appropriate security screening to ensure that innocent civilians are distinguished from terrorist elements,” the army stated in the statement.
