Troops of the Nigerian Army have neutralised four bandits and rescued 20 kidnapped victims in separate operations across Birnin Gwari and Giwa Local Government Areas of Kaduna State.
This was disclosed in a statement by Samuel Aruwan, the Overseeing Commissioner for the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs.
According to Aruwan, troops of Operation Forest Sanity conducted clearance operations in the Alawa area of Birnin Gwari LGA, where they encountered and neutralized two bandits near Kwaga village after a brief pursuit. “Two AK-47 rifles, three magazines, three motorcycles, and a Baofeng radio were recovered,” he added.
In another operation, Aruwan said the troops of Sector 6, Operation Whirl Punch, carrying out fighting patrols around Nakwakina village in Giwa LGA acted on credible intelligence and laid an ambush and neutralized two bandits, while others fled with gunshot wounds.
Aruwan noted that two motorcycles, a cutlass, and a mobile phone were recovered during the operation.
The overseeing commissioner said troops of Sector 3, Operation Whirl Punch, responded to a distress call from Kwaga-Polewire Road, Birnin Gwari LGA and the bandits fled upon sighting the troops, leaving behind 20 kidnapped victims, who were immediately rescued and reunited with their families.
He however concluded his statement by appealing to residents of the state to report any suspicious persons, particularly those seeking medical attention for gunshot wounds, to the 1 Division/Operation Whirl Punch toll-free line: 08000020204, or the Kaduna State Security Operations Room via 09034000060 and 08170189999.
Troops of Operation Safe Haven have arrested five notorious gunrunners and recovered a significant cache of arms and ammunition in an intelligence-driven operation in Plateau State.
According to a statement posted on X by the Military Public Information Officer of Operation Safe Haven, Major Stephen Nantip Zhakom, he said the operation, which took place between the night of September 16 and the early hours of September 17, was part of the military’s ongoing effort to curb the proliferation of illegal weapons in the region.
Major Zhakom explained that the troops raided the hideout of a known gunrunner, Mohammed Sani, at Naraguta Mining Area in Bayameni, Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Sani and four other suspects were apprehended during the operation, which also saw the recovery of various arms and ammunition.
Recovered items included two AK-47 rifles, one Fabrique Nationale automatic rifle, 14 AK-47 magazines, one Fabrique Nationale magazine, 5,316 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, 98 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition, and 43 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
“The suspects are undergoing interrogation for useful intelligence to aid in arresting other members of the syndicate as well as decimating the gunrunning supply chain,” Major Zhakom said in the statement.
Operation Safe Haven, tasked with maintaining peace across Plateau and parts of Bauchi State, lauded residents for providing information that led to the success of the operation.
“We urge continued cooperation from the people to ensure a crime-free environment,” the military officer added.
Troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, have scaled up clearance operations in the creeks, waterways, and rivulets, dismantling 37 illegal refineries in the Niger Delta region.
A statement signed by the Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lt.Col. Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, said the operations were aimed at denying criminal elements freedom of action in the region.
While conducting operations at different fronts in conjunction with other security agencies across the Joint Operations Area (JOA), the troops also identified 10 illegal connection points and destroyed six wooden boats used for conveying stolen products.
They further arrested nine suspected oil thieves, seven vehicles, eight motorcycles, four trucks, and many pumping machines and impounded 221,000 litres of illegally refined products.
Danjuma said the operatives frustrated the criminals with several attempts at establishing new illegal bunkering hubs in the region.
In Rivers State, close to Imo River, in the general area of Owaza and Odogwa Creeks, the troops were said to have confiscated over 15,000 litres of stolen crude in a large wooden boat.
They recorded the same feat at Okoloma and Obuzor Creeks, where they deactivated nine active illegal refining sites, destroyed five wooden boats, and several motorcycles, and confiscated over 13,000 litres of stolen products.
Along the road of Ebocha Ndoni, a reservoir with over 8,500 litres of stolen products, 116 sacks stocked with over 7,000 stolen products were recovered.
“Additionally, 10 empty metal drums, 10 metal pipes, and one motorcycle were also recovered. Troops also intercepted one suspect in a Toyota Camry with Reg No KTU 423 EC Lagos with over 2,000 litres of stolen products”, the statement said.
Along the road of Ndoni Obiafo, the troops intercepted a suspect, who fled on sighting them and abandoned a Toyota Sienna with Reg No Lagos EPE 789 JC conveying stolen products.
Danjuma said: “In the same vein, a Volvo car without a registration number was intercepted with 36 sacks with products estimated to be over 2,000.
“In Aga Community, Omoku at Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA), troops confiscated 16 empty newly constructed locally made drums for illegal refining of crude oil in a desperate attempt to establish new illegal oil bunkering hub.
“In Ikwerede community, also at ONELGA, troops deactivated illegal refining sites with 15 reservoirs and over 5,000 litres of stolen products handled appropriately”.
Danjuma said in Delta State, the operatives intercepted one tanker truck with Reg No YLA 286 XB loaded with products suspected to be stolen crude along road Jesse Oben in Ethiope West LGA of Delta State.
He said: “The operation led to the arrest of two persons. Further exploitation in the forest in the same area, led to the interception of an empty truck with Reg No Katsina KTN 446 YZ suspected to have been positioned to steal crude oil from SEPLAT Energy Nigeria Plc trunkline, three persons have been arrested and are currently being interrogated.
“Also, at Iriama community in Okpe LGA, one illegal crude oil tapping point still under construction along the SEPLAT Energy Plc pipeline was discovered. One person has been arrested and various items recovered.
“The items recovered were one shovel, one wooden board, several sacks, one phone, one Motorola radio, and four Motorola chargers. Also, along road Ugo Idumessa in Ugo Community Orhiomwon LGA, Edo State, the troops arrested two persons with a tanker with Reg No KMC 272 ZU with suspected stolen products estimated to be 50,000 litres”.
Danjuma said at Brass Creek in Ekeremor LGA, Bayelsa State, the troops destroyed one illegal refinery, and one oven and handled a reservoir with over 4,000 litres of crude oil.
“While in Akwa Ibom, troops on patrol along Idua road in Eket and Uyo LGAs, confiscated over 14,000 litres of stolen crude with Nine 25 litres jerricans from 2 vehicles. These were in addition to several pockets of seizures made across the region. All the suspects arrested have been handed over to the appropriate agency for prosecution”, he said.
While appreciating troops’ resilience, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Jamal Abdussalam reassured that the division would continue to deny criminal elements’ footprints in the region.
He also assured the commitment of the division to creating an enabling atmosphere for an increase in oil production in the region.
Troops on operations across the country have killed 152 terrorists, arrested 109 criminals and rescued 91 kidnap victims in the past week.
They have also recovered 183 weapons and 4,443 ammunition from terrorists and other criminals.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen Edward Buba, announced this in a statement on Friday, September 6.
He said troops in the Niger Delta region recovered 725,920 litres of stolen crude oil and 475,250 litres of illegally refined disiel from oil thieves.
Buba said: “ During the week, troops carried out surgical operations against two prominent terrorist commanders and decimated their strongholds. The areas are Sadiku Enclave in Tsora Hill in Safana local government area of Katsina State and Alhaji Yusuf Enclave at Yadi Forest in Giwa local government area of Kaduna State.
“The breakdown of arms and ammunition recovered are 95 AK47 rifles, 35 locally fabricated guns, 76 dane guns, One GPMG, 2 PKT guns, 4,131 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 165 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 115 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 28 cartridges, 53 assorted arms and 197 assorted ammunitions.”
The defence spokesman said the military was “steadily progressing towards the goal of total destruction” of all criminals elements.
He said: “ Given recent events, the military learns every day and makes improvements on ways to better deal with threat situations posed by these terror groups. Troops are moving in against the terrorist and denying them freedom of action.”
Troops of Forward Operations Base (FOB) in Yobe have arrested a 43-year-old man for being in possession of 19 seed planting machines.
The planters were among items that the state government recently distributed to farmers under its Agriculture Empowerment Programme.
In a statement, Brig.-Gen. Dahiru Abdulsalam (rtd), Special Adviser to Governor Mai Mala Buni on Security Matters, said the man was arrested about 12:10 a.m. yetersday with the equipment concealed in a bus on the Potiskum-Gombe Road.
“Today, at about 00:10am, troops of FOB Potiskum arrested a man in possession of 19 seed planters.
“The items, which are suspected to have been issued for the Yobe State Agricultural Empowerment Programme, were concealed in a blue coloured 18-seater bus with Registration No: KTG 449 YG,” Abdulsalam said.
He said the suspect could not provide any proof to show that he was a beneficiary of the programme.
“The owner of the items had no letter of authority for the issue of the items to him or any one else.
“The suspect, who hails from Jigawa State, claimed that he bought the items from one Alhaji Babaji with phone number 08032837370 in Damaturu at the rate of N50,000.00 each.
Troops of Forward Operations Base (FOB) in Yobe have arrested a 43-year-old man for being in possession of 19 seed planting machines.
The planters were among items that the state government recently distributed to farmers free under its Agriculture Empowerment Programme.
This is contained in a statement by retired Brig.- Gen. Dahiru Abdulsalam, Special Adviser to Gov. Mai Mala Buni on Security Matters in Damaturu on Tuesday.
He said the man was arrested at about 12 : 10 am on Tuesday with the equipment concealed in a bus on the Potiskum to Gombe Road.
“Today, at about 00:10AM, troops of FOB Potiskum arrested a man in possession of 19 seed planters.
“The items which are suspected to have been issued for the Yobe State Agricultural Empowerment Programme, were concealed in a blue coloured 18-seater bus with Registration No: KTG 449 YG,” Abdulsalam said.
He said the suspect could not provide any proof to show that he was a beneficiary of the programme.
“The owner of the items had no letter of authority for issue of the items to him or any one else.
“The suspect who hails from Jigawa State claimed that he bought the items from one Alhaji Babaji with phone number 08032837370 in Damaturu at the rate of N50,000.00 each.
“He stated that he was conveying the items to resell in Dutse , Jigawa,” he said.
Abdulsalam said the suspect and the recovered items would be handed over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for prosecution.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Buni had directed security agents to arrest anyone found moving the equipment out of the state.
Troops of I Division Nigerian Army have neutralised one terrorist and also recovered four AK-47 magazines in Kaduna State.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations of I Division Nigerian Army , Lt.-Col. Musa Yahaya on Monday.
”Troops while on clearance operations in the general areas of Sabon Birni, Dogon Dawa, Maidaro, Ngede Alpha and Rafin Kaji on Aug. 25, made contact with elements of terrorists.
“In the fire fight that ensued, our troop troop overpowered and neutralised one of the terrorists while others fled with suspected gunshot injuries,” the army said.
Yahaya said that four AK-47 magazines (three fully loaded with total quantity 60 x 7.62mm Special ammunition and one empty magazine), a PKT belt with 86 rounds of ammunition, two motorcycles (one of which was destroyed), a Techno mobile phone, a Baofeng Handheld Radio, and an Airtel recharge card worth N5,000 were recovered.
He said the General Officer Commanding(GOC), I Division and Commander of ”Operation WHIRL PUNCH” Maj.-Gen. Mayirenso Saraso commended the troops for the successful operation.
He also charged them to redouble their efforts as well as make life unbearable for all terrorists, insurgents and their collaborators in the Division’s Area of Responsibility.
He commended the good people of Kaduna, Kano, Niger and Jigawa States for their continuous cooperation.
He also urged them to always make good use of the division’s Toll Free Line “0800 002 0204” to communicate actionable intelligence and information that will further assist the Division and other security agencies to project offensive operations against the criminal elements.
The crackdown on economic saboteurs has intensified with the arrest of 21 suspected oil thieves by the troops of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in the Niger Delta.
The troops also clamped down on 43 illegal refineries and deactivated them confiscating 120,000 litres of stolen products.
The Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, said In Bayelsa State, troops in conjunction with other security agencies arrested 12 pipeline vandals at Ojobo Community in Ekeremor Local Government Area.
The suspects were arrested with a barge loaded with one swamp buggy, a tug boat and many vandalized Shell Production Development Company (SPDC) pipes.
He said: “Likewise, at Obotoro Creek and Babrogbene in Southern Ijaw LGA, troops destroyed an illegal refining site and intercepted a wooden boat as well as a reservoir with over 5500 litres of stolen products.
“Other items recovered from the site included 2 drums of Automotive Gas Oil, estimated to be 2800 litres. Relatedly, One illegal refining site at Diebu Creek in Southern Ijaw with over 8000 litres was deactivated.
“The operations also yielded results around Binikurukuru axis of Igbomtoru and Tebidaba communities also in Southern Ijaw, where one wooden Canoe, loaded with over 2000 litres was intercepted with one suspect arrested”
He said in Rivers State, troops around Bille and Abiseni general area in Degema and Akuku-Toru LGAs, deactivated five illegal refining sites and three large storage points containing over 28000 litres of stolen crude.
He said: “Also, troops conducting pipeline surveillance around oil wellheads at Cawthorne Channel I, II and III general areas also in Degema LGA intercepted a wooden boat loaded with over 5000 litres of crude. This was in addition to the destruction of a large wooden boat hidden inside the creek, suspected to be used for criminal activities.
“Similarly, troops on routine patrol, around Sama in Asari-Toru LGA, destroyed One illegal refining site, One Oven, three receivers and one reservoir.
“At Odioku and Okoh in Onne LGA, two illegal refining sites were destroyed, while over 2000 litres of stolen crude were confiscated. Additionally, two wooden boats hidden in the creeks, along Egi and Nkissa, containing over 2000 litres of crude were also recovered.
“Also, within Ogbogolo forest in Ahoada West, troops deactivated one illegal refining site with over 4000 litres of stolen crude. At the stretch of the Imo River, troops have scaled up operations that led to the deactivation of 12 illegal refining sites and several products confiscated”.
In Delta State, he said one illegal refining site at Ikpemu Creek with over 5000 litres of stolen products had been deactivated and that many illegal refining sites had been taken out with various products confiscated within the Division’s Area of Responsibility.
Danjuma said the vandals arrested would be handed over to the relevant prosecution agencies.
While commending troops for their relentless efforts, the General Officer Commanding, the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Jamal Abdussalam charged them with scaling up operations against economic sabotage and sundry crimes.
He also warned criminal elements to embrace legitimate means of livelihood and desist from sabotaging the nation’s economy.
The Defence Headquarters has said that troops on operations across the country killed 171 terrorists, arrested 302 criminals, and rescued 134 kidnap victims in the past week.
It said that troops on operation in the Niger Delta area seized 799,400 litres of stolen crude oil, and 151,150 litres of illegally refined diesel, and arrested 25 oil thieves.
The military high command said this in a statement on Friday, August 23, through the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen Edward Buba.
According to the statement, troops recovered 84 assorted weapons and 1,499 assorted ammunition from criminal elements during several operations.
The statement stated: “ The weapons ammunition recovered were one PKT gun, one G3 rifle, three AK49 rifles, 44 AK47 rifles, 10 fabricated rifles, 18 dane guns, 10 pump action guns, four locally made pistols, 18 AK47 magazines, 2 FN magazines, one smoke grenade and one bandolier.
“Others are 843 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 506 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 60 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ball rimmed, and 90 live cartridges, among other items.”
The military high command said troops would continue to maintain operational activities across the country to ensure the protection of the citizens.
The military has eliminated 147 terrorists, apprehended 381 suspects and rescued 113 kidnapped hostages across the country.
Its Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, made this known at a briefing yesterday in Abuja.
Buba said the troops recovered 74 assorted weapons and 3,498 ammunition, comprising one dushka, one RPG bomb, one RPG charger, 42 AK47 rifles, 10 fabricated rifles, and 13 dane guns.
“Also recovered are one FN rifle, one revolver pistol, one locally made pistol, 27 magazines, one AK47 dummy rifle, one AK47 top cover and one baofeng radio.
“Others are 288 rounds RG55 ammo, 40 rounds CJ95 ammo, 2,466 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 470 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 73 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm, and 112 rounds of 7.62x39mm.
“They also include 42 live cartridges, six vehicles, 32 motorcycles and eight mobile phones amongst other items.
“During the week under review, troops neutralised 147 and arrested 381 persons. Troops also arrested 23 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 113 kidnapped hostages,’’ he said.
In the Northeast, Buba said troops of Operation Hadin Kai, neutralised 81 terrorists, arrested 52 suspects, and rescued 34 kidnapped hostages.
He said a total of 94 terrorists comprising 19 adult males, 26 adult females, and 49 children, surrendered to troops within the theatre of operations.
In the Northcentral, Buba said troops of Operations Safe Haven and Whirl Stroke, neutralised 17 insurgents, arrested 101 violent extremists, and rescued 23 kidnapped hostages within the week.
In Northwest, he said the troops of Operations Hadarin Daji and Whirl Punch neutralised 39 terrorists, apprehended 192 suspects, and rescued 50 kidnapped hostages as well as recovered a cache of arms.
In the Southsouth, Buba said the troops of Operation Delta Safe recovered 920,800 litres of stolen crude oil, 88,760 litres of illegally refined AGO, and 7,500 litres of PMS.
He added that troops discovered and destroyed 15 dugout pits, 17 boats, 62 drums, one receiver, and 27 storage tanks as well as 84 illegal refining sites.
“Troops neutralised one terrorist and apprehended 23 suspected oil thieves and other violent extremists and also recovered nine assorted weapons, 10 magazines, and 63 assorted ammunition,’’ he said.
In the Southeast, Buba said the troops of Operation UDO KA neutralised nine terrorists, arrested eight violent extremists and rescued six kidnapped hostages as well as recovery of weapons.
In the Southwest, he said the troops of Operation AWATSE apprehended five violent extremists and recovered four AK47 rifles, one locally fabricated pistol, and 110 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, among others.
According to him, the recently rejigged war against crude oil theft operations in the Niger Delta has begun to yield a noticeable increase in the nation’s crude oil production.
“Though we are not yet where we want to be in terms of daily crude oil production, troops will sustain the renewed vigour and momentum till the crude oil production target is achieved and exceeded.
“Overall, we are constantly assessing our actions, adjusting and amending our operations to annihilate terrorists across.
“Accordingly, troops are working decisively to kill the terrorists, stop the insecurity, and ensure the safety of citizens across the country.
“Citizens are urged to note that winning the war depends not only on the military, weapons, and finances,’’ he said.
