Terrorists’ informant, weapons supplier arrested in Abuja, Borno

The Defence Headquarters on Thursday said troops of Operation Hadin Kai arrested terrorists’ informant in the Asokoro area of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja.

Also, a foreign terrorists’ logistics supplier and arms dealer identified as Mallam Abatcha Bukar and 13 other terrorists were arrested in Borno State.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Musa Danmadami, disclosed these while briefing journalists on the activities of the Armed forces of Nigeria between August 25 and September 8, 2022.

He also said three abducted Chibok girls and 19 other kidnap victims were rescued within the period under review.

Danmadami said, “A suspected foreign logistic supplier and arms dealer to the Boko Haram Terrorists/Islamic State of West Africa Province named Mallam Abatcha Bukar was equally arrested with assorted injections, two Automated Teller Machine Cards and the sum of N294,520.00 only. In the North Central, he said the tactical surveillance troops arrested a Boko Haram informant named Mamuda Usman (aka Bado) in Asokoro, the Federal Capital Territory.”

Within this period, troops neutralized 252 terrorists while 556 suspected Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists and their families, comprising 115 adult males, 189 females and 252 children, surrendered to troops at different locations in the period under review.

Items recovered include, two unexploded grenades, 12 AK47 rifles, three FN rifles, five AK47 magazines, one automatic grenade launcher, one hand grenade, one AP mine, 86 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, one motorcycle, 16 bows and arrows, 7 bicycles and 10 mobile phones.

Troops also rescued 3 abducted Chibok girls named Jinkai Yama, Falmata Lawal and Asabe Ali who were on serial number 3, 20 and 24 of the abducted Chibok girls’ list”. The girls were rescued at different locations with their children and 19 other abductees.”

Also, on 30 August 2022, he said troops arrested a suspected Boko Haram terrorist arms dealer named Hamza Dogo in Zamfara and recovered two AK47 rifles, 8 magazines, 200 rounds of 7.62mm and one Pontiac vehicle.

In the South-South, he said the troops of Operation DELTA SAFE within the period under review discovered and destroyed 67 illegal refining sites, 11 wooden boats, 218 storage tanks, 168 cooking ovens, and 61 dugout pits.

He added that troops recovered 2,070,000 litres of crude oil, 706,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, 15,500 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosine, 67,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, eight trucks, three pumping machines, three outboard engines and three generators, while, 5 pipelines vandals were also arrested.

“Consequently, the cost implication of product seized are, N664,867,307 for crude oil, N546,712,280.00) only for Automotive Gas Oil, while N12,241,125.00 for Dual Purpose Kerosine and N11,803,750.00 for Premium Motor Spirit, all valued at N1,235,624,462 was denied oil thieves during the period under review”.

In the South East, troops within period killed five Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network and recovered three pump action guns, two locally made double barrels guns, four locally made pistols, four Improvised Explosive Devices, and other weapons and assorted ammunition as well as military and police uniforms, large quantities of assorted hard drugs.

Also, in the South-West, he said troops of Operation AWATSE intercepted 792 parcels of illicit drugs suspected to be Cannabis Sativa into the country at a checkpoint along Ilaro-Benin Republic border.

He said the parcels of the Indian hemp were concealed in a truck coming from outside the country estimated to be worth N10,000,000.00.