Home CRIME Troops capture 10 senior Boko Haram commanders, key logistics suppliers

Troops capture 10 senior Boko Haram commanders, key logistics suppliers

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FILE PHOTO: Boko Haram sects

By Isaac Olamikan, Senior Correspondent, Benin

 

Nigerian Army has stated that troops of Operation Lafiya Dole have stepped up artillery bombardment of identified Boko Haram criminals’ enclaves and hideouts adding, “troops have equally stepped up the effective blockade of their logistics supply routes and the arrest of some of their key logistics suppliers with devastating outcomes on the criminal insurgent group.”

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In a statement made available to Daily Watch, the army said: “During a successful sting operation conducted on 9 October 2019 by troops of the 26Task Force Brigade, 10 suspected key Boko Haram members were reportedly captured while attempting to sneak into some communities around Bitta in Gwoza LGA of Borno State in a bid to escape the troops’ sustained onslaught against them.

 

“Preliminary investigation reveals that the arrested criminals are ranked higher than the Amir in the criminals’ hierarchy. Many of them have been identified to have operated combat vehicles during the infamous Boko Haram attack on Gwoza in 2014.

 

“It is gratifying to note that one of the arrested suspects, Alhaji Bukar Modu is Serial 89 on the high profile Boko Haram leaders wanted list published by the authorities of the Nigerian Army.”

 

Meanwhile, troops of 4 Brigade operating under the aegis of operation MESA reportedly smashed a notorious armed robbery gang that have been terrorizing commuters along a major road at Owa Community in Uhunmwode LGA of Edo State.

 

One of the suspects, Mr Evans Obidili Ubaka was promptly arrested while other gang members fled. However, concerted efforts are on to track and arrest the fleeing criminals.

 

Also, on same day, the troops conducted a joint operation with personnel of the Nigeria Police Oredo Command. Acting on credible information, the operation led to the arrest of a renowned kidnappers’ informant popularly known as “Mr Jaguar”. Preliminary investigation reveals that the suspect master minded the recent infamous kidnap of a man, his pregnant wife and child in the area.

 

In a similar vein, troops of 32 Artillery Brigade’s  Anti-Kidnapping Team conducted a security investigation mission to Ajowa- Akoko village in Akoko North West LGA of Ondo State. The troops met with one Alhaji Zakari Yau, a kidnap victim who escaped from his abductors after spending 2 days in captivity. Information gathered during the mission led to the arrest of one of the suspects named Wasiu  Mohammed and 3 other members of the gang. During preliminary investigations, the suspects confessed to the kidnapping of the victim and the demand for a ransom of N5million.

 

According to the army, “in the Niger Delta region, troops continue to thwart the activities of economic saboteurs and their collaborators by continually destroying all identified illegal refining sites, arresting their operators and illegal value chain benefactors.

 

“In the same vein, troops of 343 Artillery Regiment arrested a truck with Registration Number EPE 24 XG loaded with substance suspected to be stolen crude oil along Elele Alimini Road with 3 occupants. Suspects and exhibits will be handed over to the EFCC Rivers State Command at the end of preliminary investigation.

 

“Similar operations conducted by troops across the region recently resulted in the destruction of 11 Illegal refineries, 13 storage tanks, 2 boats loaded with stolen crude oil, 3,200 litres of illegally refined petroleum products, 3 metal tanks containing illegally refined petroleum products, one speed boat mounted with 75 HP engine, 4 Cotonou boats, 3 welding machines, 3 generating sets, one gas cylinder, 2 iron plates, 8 iron pipes, 5 pumping machines and 7 boilers under construction.”

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