September 08, (THEWILL) – Tactical surveillance troops have arrested a wanted Boko Haram terrorists’ informant, Mamuda Usman, aka Bado, in Asokoro area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Defence Headquarters said on Thursday.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen Musa Danmadami, who made this known at a bi-weekly news conference on the military operations across the country on Thursday, in Abuja, said the suspect ran errands for a suspected high-profiled terrorist commander in Kaduna.
According to Danmadami, the commander had been on the tracking list of security agencies, adding that the arrested suspect was in custody for further action.
He explained that the Headquarters, Operation Safe Haven, in collaboration with Beautiful Gate Handicaps People Centre, Jos, distributed 220 tricycles and bags of rice to persons living with disability within Plateau and Bauchi States.
Danmadami said the gesture was part of the operation’s civil-military activities, aimed at promoting peace and bringing succor to the physically challenged.
The gesture, he said, was also targeted at upgrading their living conditions, supporting vulnerable members of the society, and increasing their participation in peace-building.
The spokesman said the troops also trailed and rescued kidnapped victims from kidnappers, during clearance operations at Changal village in Mangu and Pinau village in Wase Local Government Areas of Plateau.
He said that troops of Operation Whirl Stroke apprehended two kidnappers, Alex Apera (26) and Umaru Halilu (34) and rescued victims at ChaChangi village in Takun and Rafin Kada village in Wukari Local Government Areas of Taraba.
In North West zone, Danmadami said the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji continued to intensify offensive action against terrorist activities with several rescues, 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.
The Spokesman said the troop had on Sept. 3, neutralised three terrorists, while others fled with gun wounds during an encounter at Kurar Mota in Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara.
According to him, one of the neutralised terrorists was identified as Dan Nijar Bala, the notorious terrorist who has been on the wanted list of troops and noted for a series of kidnapping incidents and attacks in the general area.
Danmadami said that the air component had on Aug. 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 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 that 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.
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