The military on Thursday said, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE responded promptly to a credible information on Plateau State, neutralized a kidnapper kingpin who was an escapee from the Jos prison break.
Major General Musa Danmadami, Director Defence Media Operations, revealed this during the bi-weekly media briefing in Abuja that the suspect was neutralized while trying to escape from his hideout.
He said, based on credible information revealed that the kidnapper kingpin who was an escapee from the Jos prison break was at Farin Kasa in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State troops busted his hideout.
He also said, troops also neutralized a notorious kidnappers identified as Ibrahim Abdullahi in Goro village of Plateau State while equally trying to escape from his hideout.
General Danmadami said, based on another intelligence on movement of suspected kidnappers on Road Takun-Wakari in Taraba State, during the operation, as the kidnappers attempted to escape on sighting, Nigerian troops at their hideout busted the the area and engaged the criminals and killed scores.
He pointed out that items recovered from the kidnappers were 2 mobile phones, 1 power bank, 1 identification card, 1 bag containing charms, 1 bag containing drugs and the sum of Eight Hundred and Sixty Five Thousand Four Hundred and Sixty Naira (N865,460.00) amongst others.
General Danmadami further revealed that troops in the North Central Zone of the Country, in a coordinated operation between the land component and the air component, have sustained the onslaught against terrorists and other criminal elements as troops repelled an attack by the Boko Haram Terrorist/Islamic State of West Africa State Province terrorists at Wawa Cantonment in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, neutralized 3 terrorists and captured 5.
He pointed out that troops also in conjunction with vigilantes at Tungan Gagara and Damala villages where contacts was made with the terrorist, following the fire fight, 13 terrorist were arrested while several others jumped into the river while at Babusara village in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, troops neutralized 3 terrorists while other fled in disarray. Troops recovered several arms and ammunitions.
"14 suspected illicit drug peddlers were arrested, with large quantities of substance suspected to be hard drugs after troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE in conjunction with the Nigeria Police and NDLEA operatives on 28 October 2022 raided identified drug peddlers hideout around North bank in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State.
"Troops of Guards Brigade raided an illegal mining site at Tukashara Wasa, Apo in Abuja Municipal Area Council on 30 October 22 and arrested 60 suspected illegal miners as well recovered 4 dane guns, I locally fabricated gun, 14 cutlasses, 4 sleg hammers, 25 motorcycles, 1 vehicle and other items. Troops on the same day also arrested 2 trailers loaded with illegal mined items.
"Troops of Operations SAFE HAVEN arrested 5 suspected kidnappers with weapons and illicit drugs. Troops also raided villages in Qu’an Pan, Jos South, Jos East and Jema’s Local Government Areas of Plateau and Kaduna States and arrested 2 suspected drug peddlers, 3 suspected armed robbers and 2 suspected kidnapper", he added.
Director Defence Media Operations also said troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN between 27 - 30 October 2022 conducted cordon and search/rescue operations, arrested 3 kidnappers, 3 suspected gun runners and rescued 2 kidnapped victims. Troops recovered.
He stated that troops responded to information on kidnapping activity on road Jos - Abuja at Bindi village, in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State. Troops discovered that the criminal had abducted 5 occupants in a Sharon vehicle, which was enroute Jos. Troops pursued and made contact with criminals. During exchange of fire, troops neutralized 2 kidnappers and rescued the 5 victims.
"Troops of operation HADARIN DAJI and WHIRL PUNCH in the North West Zone of the Country troops neutralized 25 terrorists, rescued 19 civilians and arrested 18 terrorists. troops of Operation WHIRL PUNCH on 23 October 2022 responded to the presence of terrorist in Kaduna State and neutralized 2 terrorists, recovered arms and ammunition.
"Terrorist fled leaving their kidnapped victims after Troops exploited an area in Kaduna State, rescued 10 civilians and recovered 3 vehicles. Troops also conducted clearance patrol in Anka and Faskari Local Government Areas of Zamfara and Katsina States, neutralized 2 bandits, rescued 9 kidnapped victims, recovered arms and ammunition", he stressed.
General Danmadami giving further update said, the air component of Operation HADARIN DAJI on the 21 October 2022 also conducted an air strike at Maradum Local Government Area of Zamfara State, on an identified terrorist leader’s location. Credible intelligence revealed that the terrorist leader and foot soldiers had scheduled an early-morning meeting in a location, while their logistics base where ammunitions, vehicles, motorcycles and other ill-gotten loots were stored in another location. Consequently, air sticks were carried out simultaneously at both locations and feedbacks, confirmed that several terrorists were eliminated and their logistics destroyed.
The military high command commended troops efforts in the various theatres of operation across the nation and urged Nigerians to continue to provide prompt and creditable information on the activities of terrorists and other criminal elements, in their respective areas.
