Boko Haram: Troops Find 80 Machine Guns, Other Weapons In Underground Armouries

Troops carrying out mop- up operations in Balmo forest in Borno State have discovered a shocking cache of high-calibre weapons including more than 80 machine guns in underground armouries.

Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, who confirmed the discoveries, added that “the troops who have been excavating various sites in the forest in search of hidden weapons have so far recovered in addition to more than 80 General Purpose Machine Guns, over 10 rifles along with parts and accessories as well as tubes of Rocket Propelled Grenades and Launchers, cables,  wires and thousands of rounds of assorted ammunition.” 

Also recovered in the search, according to Olukolade,  were uniforms of security agencies including protective clothing.

He added that suspects captured in the forest had been “taken into custody and are volunteering information linking the activities in the forest with other terrorist activities in the country,” while stressing that “the mopping up operation continues.”

173 teachers lost to Boko Haram
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Union of Teachers has decried the loss of 173 teachers to Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East.  

The National President of NUT, Mr. Michael Olukoya, decried the death of the teachers when he spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Friday.  

Olukoya expressed regrets that the union lost 170 teachers in Borno State and three in Yobe State to Boko Haram attacks. 

He also decried the detention of the Chibok schoolgirls by the insurgents and the unabated siege on the school system by Boko Haram in the country. 

The NUT president called on the Federal Government to expend all resources available to free the abducted schoolgirls and save them from psychological trauma. 

“Government should appropriately police the school environment for the security of pupils and teachers and create conducive learning environment for quality education delivery,” Olukoya said. 

He urged governments at all levels to provide schools within their jurisdiction with perimeter fencing and security personnel at all times.

The conference, according to him, had called on the Federal Ministry of Education to incorporate the crèche system into the national educational policy and practice in Nigeria.

He emphasised that the issue of early childhood education should be given priority in the country. 

Olukoya complained of non-payment of 27.5 per cent teachers salary scale (TSS) allowance to teachers in unity schools.

He said that teachers in the unity schools would soon embark on strike, adding that all teachers nationwide would embark on sympathy-strike if the situation persists. 

 Nigerian Tribune with over 8,600 hits