Military intercepts Abuja-bound bus carrying 51 Borno youths

The Nigeria Defence Headquarters has announced on Thursday the interception by its troops of 51 young men travelling in three 18-seater buses from Maiduguri in Borno State to Abuja.

The DHQ said the officers of the Special Task Force were investigating the motive for the movement of the youths, adding that the youths claiming to be travelling under the directive of a government official in Borno.

No government official has yet confirmed the claim, the military said.

According to the post made on its website, the Nigerian military authorities stated that the transportation of the youths occurred around 3 a.m. when they were stopped in Plateau state.

“Officers of the Special Task Force are currently trying to unravel the motive for the movement of some youths from Maiduguri heading to Abuja at about 3am when they were accosted in Plateau State on Wednesday,” the DHQ said.  

It added that the youths were being chaperoned by a lady.

“Numbering about 51, the youths were under the guidance of a lady as they were being conveyed in three 18-seater mass transit buses when they were intercepted along Babale in Plateau state as they journeyed from Maiduguri to Abuja in the night.
 
“During the interrogation that followed, they claimed they were being conveyed to Abuja on the directives of a Borno State Government official to meet their relatives for assistance in an economic empowerment programme.  

“The official is yet to respond to series of efforts to verify the claims,” the military added.

It said further that, “The issue is being investigated to ascertain the genuine mission of such a team of young persons moving in the night more so as they have made contradictory statements as to the sponsorship of their mission to Abuja.  

“The movement is being assessed in the light of the security situation and the suspicious claims of the youths.”