…Hunt for others
By: Felix Ikpotor
Following the unprecedented defeat suffered by members of the Boko Haram sect on October 10, 2019 at Jagalta Village along Monguno Road in Borno State, in the hands of the joint military operation of Sector 3 Operation Lafiya Dole (OPLD) and Sector 2 Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) Chadian Defence Forces (CDF), the troops of sector 3 OPLD have continued their hunt for fleeing criminal insurgent.
The hunt has led to the recovery of additional 4 AK 47 Riffles, one Rocket Propelled Gun (RPG) Tube, one 60mm Commando Mortar, one abandoned Gun
Truck and one Motorcycle belonging to the fleeing Boko Haram criminals.
This was made known in a press statement by the Army Operations Media Coordinator, Colonel Aminu Iliyasu.
Iliyasu also said troops deployed at Gubio successfully repelled a Boko Haram attack on their location and neutralized one Boko Haram criminal, recovered one AK 47 Riffle, one magazine, one Very High Frequency (VHF) Radio, one mobile phone in addition to syringes/ample of injections during mop up operations.
He added that troops of 231 Battalion arrested one Boko Haram criminal suspect named Baana Zakari AKA Okocha at Biu main Motor Park.
The army media coordinator said preliminary investigations have revealed that the suspect acts as an informant to Boko Haram criminals within Bama general area. The statement went further to say that: “ troops of 231 Battalion in conjunction with of 331 Artillery Regiment and Vigilantes acting on credible information arrested another Boko Haram criminals’ logistics supplier, Alhaji Lawan AKA CAFFENOL at Maina Hari Check Point while trying to cross with some consignments believed to be meant for the criminals. Items recovered from the suspect include 2 jerricans of palm oil, 2 jerricans of vegetable oil, 2 cartons of biscuits, one carton of spaghetti and 30 packets of mosquito coils. Suspect is already making useful confessions to interrogators”.
The army also said its Joint Tactical Team arrested an Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) logistics supplier and courier. Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect, Usman Yage, who is of Chadian extraction has been maintaining communication between the suspect, Goni Jere, Abul Qaqa and Modu Sulum who are all top wanted Boko Haram/ISWAP commanders, adding that the suspect uses one of Goni Jere’s phone numbers to purchase vehicles and motor cycles spare parts for ISWAP.
The suspect was arrested in possession of motorcycle spare parts and locally made smoke perfumes which were intended to be delivered to Goni Jere.
Other part of the statement reads thus: “troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation MESA continue to raid criminal elements at their hideouts across the nation. Accordingly, troops of 144 Battalion (Rear) while acting on credible information intercepted and arrested one Chinedu Mark in Abiriba in Ohafia LGA of Abia State in possession of a locally made pistol and 2 cartridges hidden in a polythene bag stuffed with garri. Suspect confessed that he was conveying the arms to 3 of his friends who are now at large”.
Similarly, troops of 102 Guards Battalion arrested an alleged imposter while on routine patrol along Jere – Katari – Kaduna – Abuja express way extorting money from motorists.
The suspect, Godspower Linus was found with a fake Military ID Card, camouflage jungle hat, military belt and a motorcycle.
In addition, “between 12 – 14 October 2019, troops in the Niger Delta Region have intensified their operations against illegal oil bunkering, piracy, kidnapping, armed robbery and other sundry crimes. During the period, the unrelenting troops destroyed 4 identified illegal oil refining sites, 6 large metal storage tanks containing illegally refined Automated Gas Oil (AGO), 4 large ground reservoirs, 6,000 litres of stolen crude oil and 80,000 litres of refined products in plastic drums and Jerri cans”.
The army also recovered 2 vehicles and a motorcycle from suspected bandits.
Iliyasu in the statement said in view of the recent successes achieved by troops across the nation, the Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Tukur Yusufu Buratai wishes to acknowledge and thank all well-meaning Nigerians for the support accorded to troops of the Nigerian Army in the conduct of their daily operations.
He reassured of the Army’s resolve to providing a secured environment for all.
