Army shuts down cattle market used as Boko Haram trading hub in Adamawa
The Song cattle market in Adamawa state has been shut down by the Nigerian Army after intelligence gathered revealed that Boko Haram terrorists were sending rustled cattle to be sold at the market.
The closure of the market had raised commotion as some traders alleged the action of the military, followed villagers refusal to yield to the demands by soldiers stationed there for huge amounts to allow them to transact business.
Some of the traders who spoke to newsmen said the soldiers allegedly demanded millions of naira from the traders’ association overseeing the market.
But the Brigade Commander, 23rd Armoured Brigade, Gibson Jalo Cantonment, Brigadier General Aminu Garba, said the market was closed to stop terrorist attacks and safeguard the community from any imminent threat.
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He said, “The market was closed for reasons of security concern. Intelligence has confirmed terrorists are sending rustled cattle to sell at the market.”
In the same vein, the district head of Song, Alhaji Ahmadu Saidu said the allegation that the market was closed by the military because the traders refused to cooperate with them is false.
“I’m not aware of any attempt to extort the traders. The soldiers informed me that they shut down the market to investigate something related to terrorism”.
Recall, on December 14 last year, it was reported that a local weekly market in Gombi was shut by the military to avert infiltration by terrorist groups.
Gombi shares a common boundary with the Mandara mountains which Boko Haram insurgents have often used as a safe haven in launching attacks on villages and communities in Askira Uba, Local Government Area in Borno State and on Michika, Madagali, Hong, and Gombi LGAs of Adamawa.
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