Notorious foreign-linked Boko Haram/ISWAP logistics collaborator nabbed in North-East
…Troops destroy 36 illegal refining sites in N/Delta
…Big-time gun runner arrested in Onitsha
BY ANDREW OROLUA
A notorious terrorist logistics collaborator in the North-East with links to foreign arms network, has been arrested by troops of the Nigeria Armed Forces operating in the volatile zone, military authorities disclosed yesterday.
The breakthrough came as the battle against oil thieves in the Niger Delta moved a notch up with troops of Operation Delta Safe destroying 36 illegal refining sites in the South South zone last week.
Troops also arrested a high profile gunrunner within Onitsha axis of Anambra State.
Defence Headquarters disclosed these yesterday at a media briefing in Abuja on ongoing military operations across the country.
Director of Defence Media Operation, Major General Edward Buba, who addressed newsmen, said a number of sting operations, raids, fighting patrols and air raids in some parts of the North East resulted in the arrest of the terrorists’ logistics collaborator.
He said the suspected collaborator was arrested following intelligence that credited him with facilitating the infiltration of notorious terrorist logistics collaborators into Maiduguri metropolis, the capital of Borno state.
Maj. Gen. Buba said the suspect, a man, admitted being a courier that conveys arms, ammunition and sundry logistics items to terrorists at their hideouts.
The suspect also confirmed links with foreign arms network, he added.
Buba said the military operations were in areas where troops had degraded Boko Haram terrorists/Islamic State of West Province (ISWAP) terrorists.
For example, he said, offensive operations were conducted by the troops of Operation Hadin Kai in Konduga and Bama Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Borno State, while a sting operation was carried out within Maiduguri metropolis and air interdiction took place in Gwoza LGA of the state.
He said the operations resulted in the neutralizing of terrorists, rescue of hostages and arrest of terrorist collaborators while weapon were recovered and a notorious gang member nabbed.
Giving further details of some of the operations, the director said that on July 27, 2023 troops ambushed Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists at Shetimari in Konduga LGA of Borno State.
According to him, in the encounter, two terrorists were neutralized, one AK 47 rifle, AK 47 rifle magazine, six rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition and one mobile phone were recovered.
Buba further disclosed that troops, in conjunction with hybrid forces, on July 30,2023 also ambushed suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists at a checkpoint at Kubtara Village, Dikwa LGA of Borno State.
Giving more details, the director said, following a firefight, troops neutralized one terrorist and recovered one AK 47 rifle, AK 47 rifle magazine and five rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition.
”On July 26, 2023, following intelligence report concerning terrorist activities at Hashime Village in Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State, the troops conducted a raid, rescued 5 kidnapped hostages and recovered a motorcycle among other sundry items,” he disclosed.
Maj.Gen.Buba also said 14 members of a criminal gang known as Malians were arrested following several sting operations in parts of the state with an ISWAP fighter identified as Yahaya Umaru surrendering to troops along with his weapons.
He said: “Between 26 July and 1 August 2023, a total of 313 terrorists comprising 12 male adults, 138 female adults and 162 children surrendered to troops at different locations within the theatre of operation. While 9 terrorists were neutralized , 19 other terrorists were arrested and not less than 6 terrorist collaborators/couriers were arrested in the North East.”
In the Niger Delta, the director stated, the battle against oil thieves recorded success as troops of Operation Delta Safe destroyed 36 illegal refining sites in the South South zone last week.
Troops also arrested a high profile gunrunner within Onitsha axis of Anambra State.
The arrest of the man, described as a major supplier of arms and ammunition to a syndicate based in Benue and Taraba States, was made possible through intelligence, Buba said.
He warned that as perpetrators and crude oil thieves had refused to give up their illegal acts, troops and other security agencies would continue to hunt them.
According to him, troops of the joint task force discovered and destroyed 61 dugout pits, 32 wooden boats, 87 storage tanks, three vehicles, 126 cooking ovens, three outboard engines, one speedboat, two motorcycles, one generator and two pumping machines.
Troops also recovered 310,700 litres of crude oil, 14,675 litres of automotive gas oil, 49,000 litres of dual purpose kerosene, one weapon, three pieces of ammunition, apprehending 22 suspects engaged in crude oil theft in the process.
Gen. Buba recalled that one of the encounters occurred on July 24, 2023, at Wellhead Cluster, Opukushi community, Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State where troops on anti-illegal bunkering operations intercepted and destroyed one wooden boat loaded with 1000 litres of product suspected to be stolen crude oil .
Buba added that troops of Joint Task Force Operation Udo Ka in the South East also recorded huge success as raids were conducted “on camps/hideouts of Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network (IPOB/ESN) gunmen at Umunneochi, Abia state and at Mmiata Anam Forest in Anambra West Local Government Area of Anambra State.”
He said: “Specifically on July 24, 2023, following kidnapping incident along Ngodo-Isuochi road in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State, troops conducted a raid and rescued nine victims in the general area and ensured that the rescued victims were reunited with their families.”
He said that the gunmen who perpetrated the act were presently on the run, but would soon meet their waterloo.
In a separate operation, he said, on same July 24, 2023, troops raided a suspected IPOB/ESN hideout at Mmiata Anam forest in Anambra West Local Government Area of Anambra State.
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The director said during a firefight, troops neutralized one suspect while others fled.
In the process, troops also recovered one AK 47 rifle with 35 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition, one Dane gun, one locally made hand grenade, one pumping machine, one chainsaw, rain coats/boots, NP uniforms/boots, IPOB/ESN uniforms and assorted drinks, destroying three of their vehicles and nine motorcycles in the process.
The director said raids by troops was not restricted to forests and hideouts but some shops at Onitsha Main Market,Anambra State, where another suspected gun runner was nabbed by troops.
Items recovered include six pump action guns, 925 machetes, 151 machete sharpeners, 1,080 sickles, one speaker and the sum of N280,000.00, Buba disclosed.
