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SUSPECTED ARMED HERDSMEN ARRESTED BY TROOPS OF SECTOR 3 AT GIDAN BAWA COMMUNITY UNDER MARARABA EDEGE IN NASARAWA LGA, NASARAWA STATE |
By Olayemi Esan
Other were conducted at Kaduna Forest, Kasai and Naphan villages in Barkin Ladi LGA, as well as Barkin Kaya in Wase LGA of Plateau State.
Troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE between 18 and 30 June 2021, engaged in both kinetic and non-kinetic operations ranging from fighting and confidence building patrols, raid, clearance operations at some armed herdsmen, bandits’ enclaves and kidnappers’ hideouts at Egba Village in Agatu LGA, in Katsina Ala LGA and Donto Village in Otukpo LGA of Benue State.
It also resulted in the recovery of caches of arms and ammunition including several AK-47 and FN rifles, assorted rounds of different calibres of ammunition and rescue of large numbers of rustled livestock.
He said, the Operation WHIRL STROKE also held joint security meetings with other security agencies and stakeholders at the Government Lodge in Takum LGA of Taraba State, with the Governor and other Government officials in attendance.
Onyeuko also disclosed that on the heels of credible intelligence reports on criminal activities at Kankomi Village in Kachia LGA, along Jaka Da Rabi-Rugan Wakili Junction in Chikun LGA and Angwan Rukuba Mariri in Lere LGA of Kaduna State as well Kugiya Area of Bukuru in Jos South LGA of Plateau State, troops in conjunction with other security agencies rescued kidnap victims on various occasions and in the course of the operations, caches of AK-47 rifles, Dane guns and ammunition were recovered and hoards of livestock rescued.
He added that roops of Operations WHIRL PUNCH and THUNDER STRIKE within the period in focus, held security and peace meetings with Fulani Community leaders and Miyetti Allah Excos from Zango Urban in Zango Kataf LGA as well as other stakeholders at Kafanchan and Dangwa Village in Jama’a LGA in Kaduna State.
Troops of Operation DELTA SAFE arrested several criminal elements, intercepted and confiscated large quantities of contraband vessels and items as well as recovered weapons and stolen items between 18 and 30 June. These operations were conducted at Sara Creek in Warri South-West LGA and Ikpoba Community in Okha LGA of Delta State. Operations were also conducted on a compound at Lagos bus stop by Railway Station in Port Harcourt; Jokri, Opuadakiri and Jombosco areas; as well as Asapama Creek and Kaa Community Market in Khana LGA of Rivers State
During the operations, several illegal oil refining units with ovens, metal storage tanks, coffer dams and dugout pits were deactivated, while large quantities of illegally refined AGO and stolen crude oil were recovered.
Troops of Operation AWATSE carried out standing patrols and raid operations at strategic areas in the Zone including Majidun area, during which one Mr Ibrahim Musa, an ISWAP member was arrested at No 31 Abartura Street in Sango-Ota, Ogun State.
According to Defence Spokesman based on Intelligence, Ibrahim was on a mission to Lagos to acquire certain items for ISWAP’s operations in Maiduguri.
He also added that troops acting on intelligence reports on ongoing illegal oil bunkering activity at Alimosho NNPC pipeline, arrested one Mr Oyeshola Saheed acting as the illegal bunkers supervisor. However, he named one Mr Akanbi as the sponsor and financier of the illegal bunkering activities in the area. Both vehicles and equipment used for their operations were recovered and handed over to the appropriate agency for necessary action.
In addition, Onyeuko noted that on 24 June 2021, the Chief of Defence Staff, General LEO Irabor met with retired senior military officers from the Zone to discuss ways out of the current security challenges in the Country.
The interaction was part of efforts aimed at tracing root causes of security challenges in the Country and to tap from the wealth of experience and knowledge of the retired officers and other stakeholders.
The CDS said that the Armed Forces of Nigeria will leverage the wealth of experience of the retired officers for the betterment of the Region and Nigeria in general.
He affirmed that the military had been reassessing its operational engagement on regular basis to improve the security of the Country. In the same vein, the CDS has called on Nigerians to be more united for the strength and progress of the Country. He made this call in Ibadan while unveiling Nigeria’s biggest flag, which covers an area of 3,275.6 square metres; a length of 75.3 metres and a width of 43.5 metres. The new flag was facilitated by Mr Babajide Ogunsanwo. The designer of the Nigerian flag, Pa Taiwo Akinkumi was in attendance.
The Defence Headquarters also organized a 3-day skill acquisition training for veterans in Gombe from 23 – 25 Jun 21.
This is the sequel to the CDS directives to train retired military veterans in various skills to enable them to engage in productive ventures rather than be tempted to avail their military skills to underserving elements.
The exercise which was hitch-free was conducted in collaboration with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council and the Small and Medium Development Agency.
In the North West Zone, Troops of operation HADARIN DAJI and other security agencies executed series of land and air operations concurrently between 18 and 30 June 2021.
The operations were conducted on bandits and kidnappers’ hideouts as well as against drug peddlers at Gusau – Magami Road in Gusau LGA of Zamfara State; Makuku in Sakaba LGA of Kebbi State; as well as Batsari and Jibia LGAs in Katsina State.
Other locations include Unguwar Kade village in Tsafe LGA and Bingi village in Bungudu LGA of Zamfara State.
The operations led to the repelling and arrest of kidnappers and drug peddlers who confessed to supplying illicit drugs to miners as well as other criminal elements. The operations also led to the neutralization of some armed bandits; peaceful resolution of farmers/herders’ clashes; recovery of arms and ammunition as well as recovery of rustled livestock.
He said, the operations also resulted in the rescue of kidnap victims in various locations including a teacher and some students kidnapped at the Federal Government College in Birnin Yauri, Kebbi State as well as arrest and rescue of some trucks of rustled livestock in different locations of the theatre.
Some gunrunners and bandits logistics suppliers, including one Lawali Na Habu was also intercepted with trucks loaded with large quantities of AGO at Tangaza LGA of Sokoto State and one Mallam Ibrahim Aliyu, a wanted notorious bandit was also arrested.
Onyeuko revealed that the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI troops in the North East Zone have consistently struck BHT/ISWAP strongholds throughout the theatre of operation. Some of the feats were achieved at Bula Village in Yobe State and Banki Town in Borno State on 27 and 28 June 2021 when troops repelled terrorists’ attacks.
He said, troops also conducted offensive deep penetration operations into villages of the Timbuktu Triangle within the period, killing about 73 Boko Haram Terrorists with 44 AK 47 rifles, 2 PKT, 7 Ant Aircraft guns, 7 gun trucks, several ammunitions of different calibre as well as weapon cleaning materials, clothing, blankets, foodstuffs, vehicles, generators, IED materials, religious scripts and other items were recovered in the process.
The Armed Forces of Nigeria, therefore, pledged not to relent in its effort to fight all forms of criminalities until relative peace is returned to the Country, lauds the efforts of the troops for keeping up the tempo and encourages the general public to support our efforts by providing credible and timely information that will facilitate our proactive engagements.
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