Troops of Operations Hadarin Daji, Whirl Punch and the Nigeria Police have arrested armed Bandits and recovered weapons in North West, Nigeria.
The Deputy Director and Coordinator Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Haruna Ibrahim made this known during the Bi-Weekly News briefing in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
General Ibrahim said that “the Security Operatives responded to information on the movement of armed bandits mounted on 20 motorcycles and camels with rustled cows moving towards Illela in Illela Local Government Area of Sokoto State”.
According to him, troops mobilised to the location and arrested 4 suspected bandits and 2 suspected informants and recovered 20 motorcycles and 4 mobile phones.
He noted that troops on fighting patrol raided a suspected bandit hideout at Tumbulukum in Gwadabawa Local Government Area of Sokoto State, however, the bandits fled on sighting the troops.
He said that troops further exploited the general area and arrested 7 suspected terrorists and recovered 4 mobile phones, 1 motorcycle and the sum of Thirty Four Thousand, Two Hundred and Fifty-Eight Naira (N34,258.00) and 600 CFA only.
Troops arrested 2 suspected bandits’ collaborators for rustling livestock at the outskirts of Zurmi town in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
General Ibrahim said that “the suspects were arrested with the sum of One Million, One Hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira (N1,180,000.00) only.”
Suppliers and collaborators
The Deputy Director also noted that troops of Operation HADIN KAI in the North East zone of the country have continued to intensify operations against terrorists including their logistics suppliers and collaborators.
According to him, in pursuit of this, troops in conjunction with hybrid forces conducted fighting patrols to Kashimeri general area and cleared terrorists’ enclaves at Ajikawuri, Kuramari, Mbbalari, Kashimari, Muskanari, Gajibo Maila in Konduga, Dikwa, Gwoza, Bama, Ngala and Mobbar Local Government Areas of Borno State.
General Ibrahim said that “Troops also recovered 3 AK47 rifles, 2 Dane guns, 16 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 1 x 36 hand grenade, 1 Unexploded Explosive Ordnance, 3 motorcycles, 3 bags of grains and other valuable items.”
Also, following an intelligence report on terrorists crossing from Cameroon to Nigeria, troops laid ambush along Bula Yobe-Darel Jamel in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State and made contact with the terrorists.
Following a fire fight, troops neutralised 5 Boko Haram Terrorists/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists and recovered 1 bag each of flour and detergent.
Furthermore, troops arrested 10 Boko Haram Terrorists/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists collaborators and suppliers at different locations within the general area of operations and recovered some logistic supplies meant for the terrorists include mosquito nets, mosquito coils, 2 bags of sugar and the sum of Two Hundred and Forty Six Thousand Two Hundred and Thirty Five Naira (N246,235.00) only, he said.
Consequently, within the weeks in focus troops recovered 19 AK47 rifles, 1 HK 21 rifle, 4 dane guns, 1 locally made pistol, 1 Unexploded Explosive Ordnance, 15 AK47 magazines, 582 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 41 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 25 cartridges and 1 tear gas.
Other items recovered include 2 Boko Haram Terrorists/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists uniforms, 4 mini solar panels, 2 wooden boats, 2 cutlasses, 3 daggers, 26 mobile phones, 5 blankets, cooking utensils, 15 livestock, 4 motorcycles, 3 bags of grains, 2 bags of sugar, 5 cartons of dry fish, 1 bag of flour, 1 bag of detergent, 3 vehicle, 4 motorcycles, 6 bicycles, 617 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit, 30 litres of groundnut oil, 2 bags of fertilizer.
Other items are 56 sheets of zinc, mosquito nets, mosquito coils, box of matches and other valuable items as well as the sum of Three Hundred and Fifty Four Thousand Eight Hundred and Seventy Five Naira (N354,875.00) only.
The Deputy Coordinator said that “troops also neutralized 24 Boko Haram Terrorists/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists, captured 10, apprehended 39 collaborators and logistics suppliers and rescued 35 kidnapped civilians”.
All recovered items, arrested Boko Haram Terrorists logistics suppliers and rescued civilians have been handed over to the relevant authority for further action while captured terrorists and surrendered Boko Haram Terrorists/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists and members of their families were profiled and documented for further action.
Meanwhile, the Military High Command has commended the unrelenting efforts of troops and other security agencies in the various theatres of operations across the country while the entire populace is hereby appreciated, for the support given to the members Armed Forces and other security agencies in the conduct of our various operations across the country.
He also urged the populace to continue to provide prompt and credible information on the activities of terrorists and other criminal elements, in their respective areas to the security agencies.
One minute silence was observed for officers and other security agents that paid supreme price in the cause of their duties.
Lateefah Ibrahim
