By Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on
Thursday disclosed that Presidential Guard Troops have on October 1, 2022 nabbed over 64 hoodlums on a mission to disrupt the activities of Nigeria’s 62 Independence Day celebrations in Abuja. The arrest of the hoodlums was effected when troops raided Karshi hill and surrounding villages in Abuja Municipal Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory following an intelligence report on their mission. Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Musa Danmadami made the revelation when he briefed newsmen in Abuja on the successes recorded by the military during their operational engagements in collaboration with other security agencies across the country from 22 September to 6 October 2022.
General Danmadami said, troops during their crack down on criminal elements in the North Central zone, arrested 64 youths in black attires armed with 9 locally made guns in an attempt to distort the success of independence day celebrations.
Director DMO also said, troops have on 25 September,2022, raided an identified illegal drug peddlers’ hideout along Koroduma-Asokoro Guzape in AMAC ,FCT and arrested 5 drug peddlers alongside with 11 bags of substance suspected to be cannabis sativa.
“In another development 33 suspected illegal miners were arrested at an illegal minning site at Gwagwalada Area Council.”
Within the period under review, troops during a gun duel with the suspected terrorists neutralized 2 criminals, arrested 3 in different parts of Benue State while others escaped with gunshot wounds.
Troops also nabbed four criminals and eliminated two in Nasarawa state within the period.
Similarly, troops arrested 15 criminals including a drug dealer, robbers and suspected kidnappers in Plateau State, rescued eight civilians and neutralized two criminals within the period
“The drug dealer was arrested with large quantity of substance suspected to be cannabis. Also on 26 September troops arrested 4 suspected armed robbers at Shaka village in Bassa Local Government Area and recovered armored cables suspected to have stolen from a government property in the general area.
“Equally, on 28 September 2022, troops in conjunction with the operatives of NSCDC arrested a notorious kidnapper and armed robber known as Anas Ayaro 22years who has been on the wanted list of security agencies along Layi in Bauchi State.
The suspect is said to be the leader of a notorious gang involved in major kidnapping, cattle rustling and armed robbery incident in Plateau and neighboring states.”
Troops recovered different items from the criminals including caches of arms and ammunition, motorcycles, mobile phones among others in different operations within the period in the zones.
According to him, all the apprehended criminals and items have been handed to the relevant authorities for necessary actions.
In another development, troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have apprehended over 77 criminal elements including BH/ISWAP terrorists, their collaborators and logistics suppliers, among others in the North East within the period.
Troops also neutralized 19 terrorists, rescued two Chibok girls with other 12 abductees as well as three civilians kidnapped victims.
Within the period, a total of 418 suspected terrorists who claimed to have lost interest in the ideology of Boko Haram terrorists surrendered to own troops at different locations with their families comprising of 44 adult males, 135 adult females and 239 children.
“All recovered items, and arrested Boko Haram Terrorist criminals were handed over to the appropriate authority for further action while surrendered Boko Haram Terrorist/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists and their families are being profiled for further action.”
General Danmadami further said, the air component of OPHK within period,have carried out precisely air interdictions on identified terrorists’ enclaves at Lake Chad general area leading to the killing of several terrorists and destroyed their structures.
In the North West, troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI (OPHD) have neutralized Five terrorists, apprehended Seven and rescued Eight civilians whilst over 52 rustled cow were recovered among several other items including arms and ammunition during their operations in Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi States within the period.
Troops also killed the suspected terrorists’ leader known as Dogo Rabe alongside Seven members of his gang during a precise air bombardments on their identified enclaves at Gwaska Dankaramis camp at Mashekari area in Zurmi Local Government Area and Sani Dangote camp in Farara village in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State.
In the south South, troops on 28 September 2022, arrested Two Cameroonians, suspected to be
Ambazonian rebels’ informant at a hotel in Ikang in Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River State. It also arrested over 34 pipeline vandals, destroyed 74 illegal refining sites.
“Cumulatively, within the weeks under review oil thieves were denied a total of Two Billion One Hundred and Forty Six Million Seven Hundred and Ninety Five Thousand Four Hundred and Seventy Two Naira Forty Two Kobo (N2,146,795,472.42) in the South South Region.” he stated.