At least 10 suspected fuel suppliers to members of Boko Haram have been arrested in Birniwa local government area, Jigawa State yesterday.

The commander of the Nigerian Army 3 Brigade, Hamisu Hassan, confirmed the arrest on Friday while parading the suspects in Birniwa town.

Hassan, who is charge of Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states, said the suspects were captured based on surveillance and intelligence report while filling their jerry cans with petrol on Thursday night in Birniwa.

The commandant said that the suspects had to travel to Birniwa in Jigawa to buy the fuel after military ban on the sale of petroleum products in jerry cans in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa.

Hassan said that initial investigation indicates that some of the suspects were from Nguru while the others were nationals of Niger Republic, adding that two of the 10 are not up to 14 years of age.

He said that items recovered from the suspects included a 33,000 litres truck filled with Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, 40 jerry cans loaded with same product, 188 empty jerry cans and a Toyota Land Cruiser.

As for the suspects, he said they have been transferred to relevant security agencies for further investigation while warning filling stations operators against the sale of fuel in jerry cans.

Hassan called on state governments to increase their support for the army to combat insurgency, reiterating its determination to end insurgency by the December deadline set by President Muhammadu Buhari.