By Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa
In line with determination of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai to ensure that there is peaceful and conducive environment for citizens and residents to carry out their lawful businesses during the Ember months, the Nigerian Army troops in various operational theatre across the country have recorded successes by decimating the activities of criminal elements.
A statement by the Nigerian Army Operation Media Coordinator, Colonel Aminu Iliyasu, made available to DAILY WATCH, stated that in Operation KAFIYA DOLE Theatre troops of Sector 3 supported by Air Task Force (ATF) roundly defeated criminal insurgents and repelled an attack on Gubio in Gubio LGA of Borno State.
Colonel Iliyasu further stated that the gallant troops neutralize 2 of the criminal insurgents and recovered one Gun Truck, 2 AK 47 Riffles, one Anti Air Craft Gun, noting that 51 civilians held hostage by the criminals were rescued in the operation with troops continued engagement of criminals to fight/ clear patrols, ambush, raids as well as cordon and search operations.
He added that “troops of the Sector, acting on timely information also arrested 4 male suspects with large consignments of dried fish intended for delivery to the criminal insurgents. All 4 suspects are currently undergoing interrogation where they are giving useful information.”
“Also troops of 7 Division Garrison in conjunction with their counterparts from 212 Battalion and Nigerian Army Super Camp 4 (NASC) during a clearance operation at Mada Village in Konduga LGA of Borno State arrested a pickup truck conveying 3 adult females, 15 adult males and 3 rustled cows.
The claim by the suspects that they were of the Shuwa extraction was refuted by the locals in the area as none of the suspects could speak any of the local languages. Preliminary investigation has revealed that one of the suspects and an NGO operating within the Theatre had been communicating at various times. Investigation further revealed that the suspect is on a WhatsApp chat platform with the same NGO.
Similarly, troops of 27 Task Force Brigade Garrison while on aggressive patrol to deny criminal insurgents freedom of action within their Area of Responsibility (AOR) discovered 2 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted along the route in Buni Gari, Gujba LGA of Yobe State. The b IEDs were safely detonated by the Explosive Ordinance Device (EOD) team.”
He explained that
Nigerian Army troops in the Operation MESA Theatre of the 245 Battalion while acting on a distress call intervened and averted a bloody clash at Mkpani community between the youths of Ajare and Edume clans in Yakuur LGA of Cross Rivers State and recovered 2 Dane guns, one locally made pistol, 2 axes and one cutlass.
The Army Spokesman said that troops of 9 Brigade Garrison while on a joint patrol with personnel of the Nigeria Police Ejigbo Division in Suru-Lere LGA of Lagos State discovered an abandoned AK 47 Rifle with Registration Number 562558860 inside a drainage in the general area of Ejigbo, adding that recovered weapon has been handed over to Nigeria Police Ejigbo Division for further action.
The statement noted the COAS, Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai assured law bidding Nigerians of the unwavering resolve of the NA to safeguard the territorial integrity of our country with the support of civil authority.
“The Nigeria Army hereby requests our good and law-abiding citizens to go about their normal economic activities without fear of molestation. The populace is equally requested to please assist the Nigerian Army with any useful information that will assist in our operational efforts aimed at ridding the society of criminal elements and other miscreants,” the statement added.
