The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Operation Puff Adder

  • Video: Nursing mother held for possession of firearm

    Operatives of Operation Puff Adder have arrested a nursing mother, Simeon Esther, for alleged possession of one AK47 rifle and 18 rounds of live ammunition.

    The police said the firearm, which the suspect allegedly concealed in a travel bag, was meant for a kidnap operation in Ogun State.

    Esther said she was promised N5,000 by her husband, who she said asked her to deliver the bag to someone in Ogun State.

    The police said other members of the gang were awaiting the weapon, which would have been used to kidnap a senior citizen in the state.

    But the police did not give details of the foiled kidnap operation.

    Read Also: ‘I got illegal firearms to protect myself’

    Esther was among 38 suspects paraded on Wednesday at the Special Tactical Squad headquarters in Abuja, the nation’s capital, for alleged kidnapping, armed robbery, cattle rustling, car theft and culpable homicide.

    During the parade, Force spokesman Frank Mba, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), said: “A mother and a wife, Simeon Esther, was arrested in Ondo State for possession of one AK47 rifle and 18 rounds of live ammunition.

    “The operatives of Operation Puff Adder prevented her from getting to her destination.  She was on a mission to deliver the gun to a gang in Ogun State. The gang had perfected plans to kidnap one of the senior citizens in Ogun State but we were able to nip the crime in the bud.

    “They selected her because she is a nursing mother and they believed they would easily beat the prime eyes of our operatives and other security agencies. But we intercepted her and intercepted the expected end recipient of the weapon, thereby aborting the kidnap operation.”

    On how she got involved, Esther said: “On Wednesday, my husband (Bright Gbade) called me and asked me to go and deliver the bag to somebody in Ogun State. He did not even tell me the name of the person; he only told me that the person would call me.

    “I did not know the content of the bag and they did not even allow me to carry the bag. They carried the bag themselves to the motor park.  It was while we were on our way that the policemen searched the bag and found the gun in it.

    “We have been married for two years and I did not know that my husband is a criminal. My husband said he is a fisherman when he was asking me out and before I accepted his proposal, he said he was one of the militants who surrendered their weapons during the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).

    “I even relocated to my mother’s house because of the way he treats me. I was at my mother’s house when he called me to help him deliver the bag in Ogun State and he promised to give me N5,000, but he ended up not giving me.”

  • Ogun Police launch ‘Operation Puff Adder’

    To ensure adequate security of lives and property in the State, the Commissioner of Police (CP) in Ogun State, Bashir Makama has launched ‘Operation Puff Adder’.

    The launch of the special crime combat operation is in line with the operational directive of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu towards ensuring adequate security across the country.

    The commissioner said the police  in the state will not tolerate any form of breakdown of law and order in the state.

    He said the operation became necessary in order to assure investors of safe environment to operate and invest in Ogun State.

    Makama warned policemen in the State to exhibit professionalism when carrying out their duties and warned that he would not condone any act of indiscipline.

    He noted that cultism, ritual killings and kidnapping are some of the major crimes in the State.

    The police boss assured residents that the new special operation would reduce crimes to its barest minimum and warned those planning to engage in criminal activities to desist from it.

  • Police launches ‘Operation Puff Adder’ in Edo

    Edo State Police Command has launched Operation Puff Adder’ to checkmate activities of criminals and their sponsors.

    ‘Operation Puff Adder’ is based on the principles of community policing, intelligence led policing, synergy with other security agencies, convoy/motorised patrols and stop and search operations.

    State Commissioner of Police, Danmallam Abubakar, who launched the ‘Operation Puff Adder’ noted that criminal vices like cultism, kidnapping, armed robbery emerged in geometric dimension as social activities is high in the state because it is a gateway to both the Southern and Northern Nigeria.

    Abubakar said the ‘Operation Puff Adder’ would be fully optimised in the state.

    He stated that strategy put in place has led to the arrest of 356 suspects and convicted 49 suspects while 198 ammunition were recovered.

    The Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 5, Diba Yakadi urged all stakeholders in the state to co-operate and partner with the police to reduce crimes in the state.

    He described the operation as a robust security plan with massive deployment of trained and motivated personnel who are expected to display high level of discipline in the discharge of their duties.

  • IG inaugurates ‘Operation Puff Adder’

    THE police are ready to tackle bandits in Zamfara State with the inauguration of operation “Puff Adder”, the Inspector General of Police Muhammed Adamu said yesterday.

    Adamu, who spoke during the inauguration in  Gusau, said the bandits  have scampered to neighbouring states, especially to Sokoto State, with the ongoing robust combined operations in Zamfara State, which was becoming the centre of banditry in the Northwest.

    The IG, who was represented by AIG Zone 10, Muhammad Mustapha, added that achievements have been realised in curtailing banditry activities from the time the operation was inaugurated in Kaduna on Friday, April 5.

    He warned that the achievements could not be sustained without cooperation, information, intelligence report, prayers and support from the affected communities.

    Adamu added that there are over 500 policemen at the inauguration and more would be coming to support the security personnel that are expediting actions against the bandits.

    He warned his officers and men that for the police to succeed in their assignments, they must abide by the rules of engagement and they must be professionals in the discharge of their duties.

    Governor Abdul Aziz Yari, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Abdullahi Muhammad Shinkafi, stressed that the operation initiated by the IG clearly shows that he meant business.

    He added that as the crooks are inventing new ways to perpetrate heinous crime, there was a need to create and adopt new strategies to tackle their nefarious activities.

    Yari lamented that the bandits were hitherto attacking villages and abducting people on the highway without notice, hence the need to introduce such an operation.