The military has uncovered a foreign syndicate that was supplying arms and ammunition to bandits in the Northern part of the country.
The soldiers from Operation Sahel Sanity deployed at forwarding Operating Base(FOB), Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, were said to have intercepted the syndicate during an undercover operation.
Coordinator Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche, gave the rationale of the suspects as Nigerien citizens. He said the suspects were arrested at Dantudu in the Mailailai District of Sabon Birni LGA of Sokoto State with arms.
He listed the weapons found on them to include Six AK 47 Rifles, three AK 47 Rifle magazines, and 2,415 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition carefully concealed in various parts of their operational vehicle.
He said the suspects are currently in military custody undergoing preliminary investigation after which they would be handed over to the relevant prosecuting agency.
The coordinator while noting that some of the security challenges bedeviling the country has external influences, called on the public to be vigilant of their surroundings and report any strange movement to the security agencies.
“It, therefore, goes to show that some of the security challenges in the country have an external influence. The suspects are currently in custody undergoing preliminary investigation before being handed over to the prosecuting agency”.
Gen. Enenche said troops at the various theatres of operations have continued to decimate terrorist groups and deny them of having unhindered access to carry out attacks.
Giving a breakdown of military operations carried out between August 13-19, Enenche said troops have continued to make tremendous progress with the killing and arrests of terrorists, bandits, pirates, and recovered several barrels of stolen crude in the Niger Delta region and destroyed illegal refining spots.
In the northeast, enenche, said “The troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE have continued to exhibit sustained resilience in the fight against terrorism in the North-East zone of the Country. During the period under review, as troops successfully conducted aggressive clearance operations and dominate the theatres of operation, the Air Task Force of Operation LAFIYA DOLE conducted comprehensive precision strikes, to mark the launching of its subsidiary Operation HAIL STORM.
Several air interdiction operations were conducted at identified Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) targets in the Lake Chad and Sambisa Forest areas of Borno State. These attacks were conducted at Tumbuma Baba, on 16 August 2020, one of the Island settlements on the fringes of the Lake Chad. Additionally, the logistics facilities of BHT at Bukar Meram on the fringes of the Lake Chad were also destroyed on 17 August 2020. The attack on the locations scored devastating hits on the settlement, killing no fewer than 20 terrorists and destroying their structures. Several BHT and ISWAP commanders were also killed and some of their dwellings destroyed at Boboshe, a village along the river line on the eastern part of the Sambisa Forest.
“Meanwhile, troops of Army Super Camp 9, on 16 August 2020, engaged BHTs and ISWAP elements during clearance operations at Dikwa LGA of Borno State. During the operation, 2 terrorists were neutralized while one AK 47 rifle and 8 rounds of 7.62mm (special) were recovered. Similarly, troops of Strong Response Area, Pulka while on a fighting patrol, encountered and engaged BHTs/ISWAP elements along Road Pulka-Firgi-Banki Junction in Gwoza LGA of Borno State. In the process, a terrorist was neutralized while 2 fully loaded AK 47 rifles, two 36 hand grenades, one motorcycle, and IED materials were recovered by the troops. Similarly, troops of 144 Battalion on ambush operation encountered and engaged BHTs/ISWAP elements at Wagga Mangoro and Wagga Lawal in the same LGA. The terrorists fled due to the superior firepower of the troops. In another encounter troops of 151 Task Force Battalion neutralized 2 terrorists along Road Banki-Pulka in Bama LGA of Borno State.
“Deducing from these results within the period, it is clear that, troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria are resolute in their endeavor to end the BHT/ISWAP menace in the North East.
