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From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Defence Headquarters, yesterday said its tactical surveillance troops arrested a wanted Boko Haram terrorists’ (BHT) informant, Mamuda Usman (aka Bado), in the Asokoro area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadami, who made the disclosure at a bi-weekly news conference on the military operations across the country yesterday, in Abuja, said it was revealed that the suspect ran errands for a suspected high profiled BHT commander in Kaduna.
He said the commander had been on the tracking list of security agencies, adding that the arrested suspect was in custody for further action. He further disclosed that military operations conducted in the last two weeks resulted in the killing of 258 terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminals disturbing the peace of the nation.
He added that the military operations led to the arrest of 77 terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, crude oil thieves and the rescue of 83 abductees, among them three Chibok girls and their children.
Danmadami said 556 suspected Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists and their families surrendered to troops at different locations in the North East. He said the headquarters, Operation Safe Haven, in collaboration with Beautiful Gate Handicaps People Centre Jos, distributed 220 tricycles and bags of rice to people living with disability within Plateau and Bauchi states.
He said the gesture was part of the operation’s civil military activities aimed at promoting peace and bringing succour to the physically challenged.
The spokesman said the troops also trailed and rescued kidnapped victims from kidnappers, during clearance operations at Changal village in Mangu Local Government Area and Pinau village in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State. He said troops of Operation Whirl Stroke apprehended two kidnappers, Alex Apera (26) and Umaru Halilu (34), and rescued victims at ChanChangi village in Takun Local Government Area and Rafin Kada village in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State.
In North West zone, Danmadami said the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji continued to intensify offensive action against terrorist activities with several rescue, clearance operations, ambushes, raids and patrols.
He said the operations led to the arrest and neutralising of scores of terrorists and other criminal elements in land and air operations in Kaduna, Katsina and Zamfara states. He said the troop had, on September 3, neutralised three terrorists, while others fled with gun wounds during an encounter at Kurar Mota in Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara.
He said one of the neutralised terrorists was identified as Dan Nijar Bala, a notorious terrorist who has been on the wanted list of troops and noted for series of kidnapping incidents and attacks in the general area.
Danmadami said the air component had, on August 30, eliminated several terrorists in airstrikes at Alhaji Isiaka village, Kuduru in Igabi Local Government Area and Udawa, along Kaduna-Birnin Gwari road in kaduna State. He said the troops also apprehended a suspected BHT arms dealer, named Hamza Dogo, in Zamfara State and recovered two AK47 rifles, eight magazines, 200 rounds of 7.62mm and one Pontiac vehicle from the suspect.
“Consequently, within the week under review, troops neutralised 17 terrorists, arrested 38 others and rescued 61 kidnapped civilians,“he said.
He said troops recovered 10 AK47 rifles, three locally made guns, four fabricated revolver rifles, 253 rounds of 7.62mm special and 68 motorcycles. Others are, 15 mobile phones, three woodland camouflages, one police uniform, two pairs of combat boots, 29 rustled cattle and two vehicles.
“All recovered items, apprehended suspects and rescued civilians have been handed over to the relevant authority for further action,” he added.
