Metro

Troops Kill 23 Terrorists, Arrest 137 Criminals

Published

9 months ago

August 26, 2023

Editor

The Defence Headquarters has said troops in various operations across the country killed no fewer than 23 terrorists and arrested 137 criminals.

The arrested criminals consist of five kidnappers; 22 oil thieves; one informant among others.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen Edward Buba, in a statement on Friday, said the operations were conducted between August 14 and 25.

He also said 41 kidnapped citizens were rescued in the operations.

It partly read, “The counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations being conducted by troops continue to produce results. Though, the men and women of the armed forces are fighting and dying for the country every day; they have made great strides.

“The military will continue the momentum of its operations by mounting pressure on groups seeking to undermine the security of citizens and the nation.

“The update on the operations across the 6 geopolitical zones as of 25 August 2023, reveals that; the military neutralized 23 terrorists, arrested 109 criminals, 5 kidnappers, one informant, 22 suspected oil thefts, and rescued 41 kidnapped hostages. Additionally, 231 terrorist and their families surrendered to troops comprising 25 adult males, 63 adult females, and 143 children surrendered.”

Buba added that the troops recovered 41 weapons and 300 assorted kinds of ammunition.

“The breakdown of arms and ammunition is as follows; 14 AK47 rifles, one AK49 rifle, two AK47 rifles loaded with 7.62mm special ammo, one PKT gun, one LMG, two pump action guns, two locally fabricated pistols, three locally fabricated rifle, two dane guns, one pistol, and 2 locally made long barrel guns.

“Additionally, troops recovered are one AK47 rifle loaded with 30 rounds of 7.62mm special, one AK47 magazine, one magazine loaded with 30 rounds of 7.62mm special, 239 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, five rounds of 7.62 NATO, 44 rounds of PKT, five rounds of 9mm ammo and six cartridges. Furthermore, troops recovered 13 motorcycles, 22 mobile phones, one bicycle, 10 machetes, a pair of camouflage, ” the statement added.

In the South-South, he added that troops recovered over 682,400 litres of stolen crude oil.

“The operations in the South-South geopolitical zone resulted in the arrest of the following; 682,400 litres of stolen crude oil, 70,950 litres of illegally refined AGO, and 23,250 litres of DPK. All amounting to an estimated sum of N414,396.250 denied to the oil thieves,” he said.

He, however, revealed that 231 terrorists and their family members surrendered to troops, adding that one of the abducted Chibok School girls was among them.

“Troops of Operation HADIN KAI’s offensive operations led to the surrender of terrorists and their family members with one of the missing Chibok School girls amongst them. The surrounding occurred in Dikwa and Gwoza LGAs of Borno State.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that one of the adult females is Mary Nkeki, a missing Chibok School girl in Ser No 55 Chibok Girls poster. The identified missing Chibok School girl was evacuated to 7 DMSH for further action.”

Metro

Man Kidnaps 6-year-old Cousin, Kills Victim For Recognising Him

Published

10 hours ago

May 13, 2024

Editor

The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested a suspected kidnapper, Abdulazeez Idris, for allegedly abducting and killing his 6-year-old cousin in Makarfi Local Government Area of the state.

The deceased identified as Aisha Saidu, was on her way to Islamiyya school when she was abducted.

Spokesperson of the command, ASP Mansur Hassan, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, May 12, 2024, said the suspect used a razor blade to slash the girl to death because she recognized him.

Despite this, he went ahead to place a ransom demand of N8 million through an unknown caller who identified himself as the perpetrator.

According to the PPRO, the incident occurred on February 12, 2024.

“On February 12, 2024, at about 1: 00 hrs, Mr Saidu Dahiru, father of the victim a resident of Angwan Juma’a, Zaria, reported to the Zaria City police station that his daughter, Aisha Saidu, a six-year-old female, went missing on her way to Islamiyya school,” the statement read.

“The case was transferred to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of SCID Kaduna, where they traced and arrested the perpetrator, identified as Abdulazeez Idris, in Makarfi Local Government.

“The suspect confessed to the heinous crime, admitting to slaying the innocent child by brutally slashing her neck with a razor blade because she recognized him and then disposing of her lifeless body in a well, ” the statement reads in part.

The PPRO further explained that the Commissioner of Police, CP Audu Dabigi, had assured the public that the case will be diligently investigated to ensure justice is served for the minor and her grieving family.

He stated that the suspect will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is completed.

Metro

Truck Crushes Five-year-old Girl In Lagos

Published

11 hours ago

May 12, 2024

Editor

The Police Command in Lagos State says a five-year-old girl, simply identified as Bosede, was crushed to death by a truck while crossing the Iganmu-Apapa Expressway with her mother.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident to the newsmen on Sunday.

Hundeyin said the information about the accident was received by the Iponri Police Division on Saturday at about 11.30 a.m.

He said the accident happened at Iganmu under the bridge, inward Apapa, involving a truck driven by yet to be identified driver.

The spokesperson said the girl and her mother were crossing the expressway when the truck hit and crushed her head, killing her on the spot.

Hundeyin said the police traffic officers from the division visited the scene and removed the corpse for burial by the family.

He said an investigation is ongoing for the possible arrest of the fleeing driver.

Metro

Customs Intercept N8.7m Smuggled Petrol En Route Benin Republic

Published

23 hours ago

May 12, 2024

Editor

Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service, Western Marine Command, have intercepted 12,500 litres of Premium Motor Spirit known is petrol worth N8,750,000 along the Isalu Creek Badagry Waterway en route to Benin Republic.

According to a statement and pictures shared on X.com by the NCS on Sunday, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Paul Bamisaiye, revealed this at the command’s headquarters on Friday.

The statement partly read, “At about 2330hrs on Wednesday, 8 May 2024, while on joint patrol based on credible intelligence, we received the movement of two boats laden with what was suspected to be petroleum products concealed in sacks. Upon receipt of the information, the team moved into Isalu Creeks Badagry Waterway.

“The Customs Area Controller stated that careful examination of the seizure at the Command Headquarters revealed ‘177 sacks and 61 kegs of 25 Litres Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) containing 12,500 Liters with a total Duty Paid Value standing at N8,750,000.”

Bamisaiye was reported to have warned smugglers to desist from their acts or risk arrest, stating that the action of the smugglers contravenes Sections 245 and 254 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.

He was quoted as saying, “There’s a strong warning to the economic importance of this kind of seizure at a time of fuel scarcity cannot be over-emphasised.

“People are suffering due to artificial scarcity, but they are busy smuggling these products outside the country to make money. It’s either they stop this act, or we continue to arrest them. We have zero tolerance for this act.”

Similarly, the Adamawa/Taraba Area Command of the NCS said it also intercepted 12,435 litres of PMS worth N10.8 million being illegally exported to Cameroon.