Metro

Troops Eliminate Shekau’s Top Ally, Tahir Baga In Sambisa Forest Troops

Published

2 months ago

May 14, 2024

The troops of Theatre Command, North East, ‘Operation Hadin Kai’ have successfully killed a top commander of the Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihād, otherwise known as Boko Haram, TAHIR BAGA.

This great feet was achieved following continuation of troops’ major offensive at terrorists enclaves in Sambisa Forest.

Sources revealed that Tahir was neutralized on May 13, 2024 when the troops unleashing the major operation codenamed: Operation Desert Sanity III, moved down terrorists’ enclaves of Shababul Umma, Garin Panel Beater and Lagara Anguwan Gwaigwai right at the heart of the forest.

Intelligence sources and Zagazola Makama, a Counter Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst in the Lake Chad region also confirmed the incident to our Correspondent on Tuesday.

It was gathered that, in the course of the offensive, contact was made with the terrorists which led to the defeat of the terrorist top commander as well as some of his lieutenant while several others escaped with gunshots wounds.

“Tahir Baga, was a close Ally to Abubakar Shekau. He was among the first sets who founded the Boko Haram movement in Maiduguri before moving into Sambisa Forest with likes of Mamman Nur, Khalid Albarnawi, Abubakar Shekau, Kaka Ali, Mustapha Chad, Abu Maryam and Abu Krimima.

“Tahir Baga was a revered Imam who was respected among the Sect group. He had on several basis truncated efforts of many fighters and their families to surrender and has also pushed many under aged girls to go on suicide bombing after convincing that they will be granted paradise as everlasting reward.” The source said.

The killing of Tahir Baga, is a major blow to the Boko Haram terrorists groups.

Another source said that “the neutralizing and sacking of terrorist communities, also led to the rescue of 14 persons comprising 4 women and 10 children from the terrorists captivity.

“The troops the firepower of the rampaging troops, fled in different directions, abandoning their weapons and other equipment.

“Among such weapons were a heap of bomb-making materials; 1 RPG 7 tube; Pkm 1X Rpg 7 tube, 1X ak47 rifle, 1 RPG Bomb, 1X RPG 7 Charger quantities of 97X 7.62MM Nato, quantities of 99X7.62 MMX 51MM, quantities 554X7.62 MM X 54 MM, 5, MCs, 2 bicycles, 3 mobile phones 11 magazines, 3 hand grenades 2 bandolier, one starlink WiFi system, 1 lithium inverter batteries of 100 AH, 1 solar inverter of 200 AH, 1 hand held patrol radio among others items were found in the terrorists enclaves.”

Related Topics:Bandits Terrorists Troops

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Metro

Niger Gov Under Fire For Ordering Security Aides To Slap Cleric

Published

1 hour ago

July 7, 2024

Editor

Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, has come under attack for ordering his security aides to slap one of the Islamic clerics at a gathering.

Bago, in a video seen by The PUNCH, ordered his aide to ‘slap’ the cleric.

“Slap him, very well. I said slap him. Go and arrest him. Deal with him well-well”, the governor ordered.

He thereafter uttered a Hausa idiomatic expression which was interpreted as “I have power.”

The cleric, who knelt down, was dragged away from the gathering by one of the security operatives suspected to be an officer of the Department of State Services.

Some of the people at the gathering were laughing and giggling when the governor gave the order.

The offence committed by the cleric was not known, but sources said he wanted to give the closing prayer at the event which the governor opposed.

Reacting on social media on Saturday, many Nigerians described the governor’s action as an abuse of power.

A popular skit maker, Debo Adedayo, popularly known as Mr Macaroni, wrote, “a governor who has sworn to serve the people is ordering a security agent to assault the same citizen he sworn to serve. See security agent too, flexing muscles on a man already on his knees. Continue pushing the people until they get to the wall.

“See my people laughing and giggling while their brother, a fellow human being like them was being assaulted by the same person that swore to serve and protect them.”

Also an X user identified as @greatjoe01 tweeted, “I sincerely understand when people argue against state policing for fear of this kind of abuse of power from the governors. But what exactly are the governors not doing with the federal police now?

“Here is a DSS agent being ordered to carry out illegality. What are we afraid of?”

Speaking to The PUNCH, a human rights lawyer, Mr Deji Ajare, condemned the governor’s action, describing it as a violation of the cleric’s right.

However, when contacted, the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, said he was not aware of the viral video.

He said, “I am not aware of the video. Is it social media work? I will look for it, let me check.”

Metro

JUST IN: Bandits Kidnap Two Kaduna Journalists, Wives, Others

Published

3 hours ago

July 7, 2024

Editor

Some bandits on Saturday night invaded Dahjonu community in Millennium City of Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State and abducted two journalists -The Nation’s Abdulgafar Alabelewe and Blueprint newspaper’s AbdulRaheem Abdu as well as their wives and children.

Alabelewe is also the current chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kaduna State Council.

One of the victims’ family members, Taofeeq Olayemi, who confirmed the incident, said the bandits invaded the area around 10.30 pm and shot indiscriminately before carrying out their act.

Olayemi said the bandits kidnapped Alabelewe, his wife, and two of his children, while Abdu and his wife, who was also sick, were kidnapped, leaving behind their sick daughter.

He said, “Initially, they picked Abdulgafar, his wife, and three of his children and a girl staying with them before asking the girl to return with one of the children and left with Abdulgafar, his wife, and two children.

“They shattered their doors and windows and removed their burglary after scaling the fence.”

Olayemi, who is also a neighbour to the victims, added, “They came around 10:30 pm on Saturday and started shooting indiscriminately.

“They first forced Aodu’s door open and picked him and his wife and left their sick daughter behind.

“Then, they entered Abdulgafar’s house through the fence and jumped into his house.

“They went straight into his bedroom and picked him, his wife, and two of their kids and left immediately, after which the vigilantes arrived and started shooting into the air.”

As of the time of filing this report, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mansir Hassan, could not be reached for comments as his telephone line was not connecting.

Metro

Pandemonium As Police Stray Bullet Kills Betting Agent

Published

14 hours ago

July 6, 2024

Editor

Pandemonium on Saturday erupted in Abeokuta, Ogun State following the killing of a betting agent identified as Abiodun Anuoluwapo by a trigger-happy police officer late Friday night.

It was gathered that Anuoluwapo, a graduate of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, operated a Bet9ja shop in front of a popular hotel, First Point, in the Imala area of Abeokuta, and was closing his shop for the day when he was gunned down.

An eyewitness, who spoke under the condition of anonymity alleged that the officers who emerged from the hotel were drunk before one of them released the bullet.

Another eyewitness reported that the officers were either on a raid or chasing a suspect when one of them accidentally killed Anuoluwa, popularly called Pepe, who was in front of his shop.

It was further gathered that the officers immediately escaped into the hotel and called for backup before they later escaped from the hotel, about three hours later.

The eyewitnesses further revealed that the officers and the backup shot sporadically to pave way for their escape from the scene.

“The guy owned a shop opposite the hotel. The police were chasing someone or on raid and there was accidental discharge, the stray bullet hit the guy and the guy died immediately

“The youth in the area tried to hold down the policemen and they ran into the hotel. They had to reinforce to get more police to come to rescue them before they were able to run away later around past 11pm. The incident happened around 8pm.

“As they were trying to disperse the protesting youths, they kept shooting a lot of guns. In fact, fear gripped everybody. More youths were also hit by guns but they survived it. One of the survivors name is Hassan, he also has a shop nearby,” an eye witness said.

They also accused police officers of coming to the area and the popular hotel to drink beer.

Contacted, Omolola Odutola, the State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the incident.

She however added that the State Commissioner of Police has made contacts with all stakeholders involved to start investigation.

“We have gotten the information that one Aanu was a victim, it is not easy to say exactly what happened but the CP is in touch with the stakeholders. He has called everybody involved so that we can start investigating what happened. We are aware, we have been informed, but we are still deliberating on the matter,” she said.