By Olayemi Esan
Military authorities have confirm the arrest of a notorious terrorist named, Mr Haladu Saleh who has been on security forces wanted list since 2018 by troops of Operation Hadin Kai in Baga town.The arrest followed extensive land and air operations across the theatre.
Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig. Gen. Bernard Onyeuko made this disclosure while briefing Defence Correspondents on the armed forces operational activities in the various theatres of operation across the country.
Onyeuko revealed that, credible intelligence on terrorists’ activities
in Karawar village, troops raided their enclave and recovered arms and
ammunition as well as assorted drugs and arrested 2 drug peddlers named;
Mr Ezekiel Karson and Galadima Bako with large quantities of cannabis
sativa.
"In the course of these operations, no fewer than 90
terrorists were neutralized and 21 of them arrested. Also, 98 assorted
weapons, including AK-47 rifles and 2,589 rounds of ammunitions were
recovered within the period.
"Additionally, 7 kidnapped civilians
were rescued, while a total of 996 BHT elements and their families
comprising 203 adult males, 302 adult females and 491 children
surrendered to own troops at different locations in Borno State", he
said.
Onyeuko noted that the theatre commander dispatched a force
package of NAF’s platforms to strike the location in successive turns,
which led to the neutralization of scores of their key members and
fighters of the insurgents.
Troops of Operation Hadarin Daji
engaged in several airstrikes were executed on bandits’ enclaves, which
inflicted heavy casualties on the bandits.
These operations were
executed at; Runka and Nasarawa villages in Safana LGA and Kaiga
Mallammai village, all in Katsina State, where armed bandits’ and
logistics suppliers, namely; Alhaji Lawal Auwalu, Ibrahim Tayo and
Alhaji Dahiru Abubakar were arrested.
These including; a
location where a bandit kingpin, Bello Guda Turji, his subordinate
commander, Bello Buza and other foot soldiers operating within Sokoto
and part of Zamfa State, use as camp.
A total of 12 criminal
elements were arrested; 118 armed bandits were neutralized and 5
kidnapped civilians were rescued; while 26 assorted arms and 194 rounds
of 7.62mm ammunitions were recovered within the period.
Additionally,
troops held peace and security meetings with community and youth
leaders and other critical stakeholders, as non-kinetic approach to
addressing the security challenges in the North West Zone of the
Country.
The efforts of Armed Forces of Nigeria and other
security agencies, both kinetic and non-kinetic have continued to yield
attendant results.
