The Borno State Police Command has disclosed that the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP), a faction of ISIS, had spies operating from internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps in Borno State.
An assistant commissioner of police in Borno command, Ahmed Bello, made the disclosure while giving updates on the security situation at the Humanitarian and Development Coordination Forum in Maiduguri.
Bello, who represented the commissioner of police, Damian Chukwu, said it was established that three among the 22 Boko Haram fighters arrested two months ago were members of ISIS.
He disclosed that the terrorists usually stationed their stooges at the IDP camps to perpetuate chaos without being noticed.
“We had launched radio programmes aimed at sensitizing the larger society on the need to be sensitive of their environment. It would interest you to know that some of the affected victims in camps were not IDPs. We have our way of rating them in the classes of A, B, C.
“So, if you find any suspicious person, do not just send him away, arrest him because the terrorists have their sympathizers. They are the people that are giving them information,” he said.
He explained that the arrest of the culprits had led to a drastic reduction in bomb blasts perpetrated by the insurgents, using improvised explosive devices in Maiduguri metropolis.
In his remarks, Bashir Garga, NEMA North-East zonal coordinator, commended the police and other security agencies for providing protection for the IDPs and creating a safe working environment for humanitarian aid workers in the North East.
Garga urged humanitarian agencies and non-governmental organizations operating in the North East to always follow due process while carrying out their activities.
He reminded the humanitarian organizations about the rules of engagement and insisted that both NEMA and SEMA must know their programmes all the time.
He noted that many humanitarian organizations were executing several intervention programmes without informing government.
He noted that many humanitarian organizations were executing several intervention programmes without informing government.
