Troops
Nigerian Troops Detonate
Troops
Nigerian Troops Detonate Large IEDs in Borno and Yobe
States
Troops of the Nigerian Army (NA) continue to discharge their
constitutional mandate with high sense of professionalism and
responsiveness across the theatre of operations.
In their unrelenting effort to clear major routes of Boko Haram
criminals’ Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) for safe commuting
by citizens in the North East, troops of 27 Task Force Brigade
Garrison in conjunction with Explosive Ordnance Devices (EOD) Team
discovered and safely detonated 3 large IEDs along Buni Gari-Kamuya
Road, linking Borno and Yobe States.
The IEDs were believed to have been planted by retreating Boko
Haram criminals. In a similar operation, troops of 153 Task Force
Battalion in conjunction with troops of 22 Brigade Garrison,
Nigerian Army Special Forces and elements of Civilian Joint Task
Force(CJTF) supported by Air Task Force (ATF) Operation LAFIYA DOLE
encountered a pocket of Boko Haram criminals at Kerenoa, Marte LGA
of Borno State. The visibly shocked insurgents fled their enclave
on sighting the robust advancing troops, abandoning one General
Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) as they scamper in disarray.
In another development, following credible information of
suspected cult activities, troops of Operation MESA in Plateau
State arrested 4 suspected cultists named Anayo Basil, Dadok
Jeremiah, Sani Sale and Miss Mary Effiong at Jos University
Teaching Hospital in Jos East LGA of Plateau State. Same troops
also raided a suspected drug peddlers’ hideout at Richa Village of
Bokkos LGA of Plateau State and arrested one Joe Agai a notorious
drug peddler with a large quantity of substance believed to be
Cannabis Sativa, a locally fabricated pistol and one live
cartridge. Another notorious drug dealer, Benjamin Jumbo was
arrested by troops of 146 Battalion (Main) in Bonny Island, Rivers
State with a 50 Kg sack containing substance believed to be
Cannabis Sativa. Additionally, a notorious Tarok Militia gang
leader, Shehu Jatau and 5 of his accomplices were also trailed and
arrested in a hotel at Central Area Abuja. Preliminary
investigation revealed that the suspects were very active in the
unfortunate Plateau crisis that cause the lives of citizens and
destruction of properties worth billions of naira. However, with
the return of peace in the state, the criminal gang resorted to
kidnapping, extortion and unleashing unprecedented carnage on
innocent residents.
Furthermore, troops of 2 Battalion, while on a routine patrol
between Polewire and Gayam Villages in Birnin Gwari LGA of Kaduna
State, rescued 7 kidnapped victims from a group of bandits in the
early hours of Tuesday 29th October 2019. On sighting the
approaching troops, the bandits abandoned their victims and escaped
into the nearby forest. However, the rescued victims who were
initially travelling from Pandogari in Niger State to Kano were
escorted out of the area and continued with their journey.
Relatedly, troops of 8 Division, while conducting clearance
operation against bandits at Mai Yashi Village of Isah LGA of
Sokoto State, rescued 2 kidnapped victims namely Shamsudeen
Bisharawa and Sadiq Mustapha from their abductors.
Similarly, troops of 31 Artillery Brigade encountered a group of
bandits at Ungwan Shai Community in Wushishi LGA of Niger State who
are believed to be terrorising the community. In a brief fire
fight, one of the bandits was neutralized while others are believed
to have escaped with gunshot wounds. In a related development,
troops of 3 Brigade deployed at Falgore in Tudun Wada LGA of Kano
State, acting on credible information conducted a successful Cordon
and Search Operation at Tudun Wada which led to the arrest of one
of the most wanted kidnappers within the area, Umaru Abubakar
Kaduwa operating along the Kano – Kaduna Highway.
In the Niger Delta region, troops continue to frustrate the
activities of economic saboteurs by scaling up the tempo of
operations against illegal oil bunkering, illegal oil refining and
oil theft. Between 28 – 31 October 2019, the unrelenting troops
arrested 18 suspects, destroyed 3 Illegal oil refining camps, 35
Cotonuo boats, 3 large storage reservoirs, 7 metal storage tanks
and arrested 10 vehicles including 2 trucks involved in the illicit
act.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu
Buratai wishes to thank all well-meaning Nigerians for their
continued support and goodwill towards the Officers and men of the
Nigerian Army. All law-abiding citizens are requested to go about
their lawful businesses without fear of molestation and
intimidation.
You are kindly requested to disseminate above information to the
general public for awareness. Thank you for your usual
cooperation.
AMINU ILIYASU
Colonel
Nigerian Army Operations Media Coordinator