CRIME
Troops Eliminate Seven IPOB Members, Arrest 22 Criminals in South East
Troops prosecuting the offensive against the outlawed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra/Eastern Security Network in the South East of the country have killed seven IPOB members and arrested six others during operations conducted in Imo, Anambra, Abia and Enugu States.
In an encounter at a checkpoint mounted by IPOB/ESN along Owerri Orlu road in Mbatoli Local Government Area of Imo State, troops neutralized 5 of the criminals and recovered 2 AK47 rifles, 20 rounds of 7.
62mm NATO, 3 dynamites, 4 AK47 magazines, 2 FN magazine and 2 vehicles among other items.Confirming the encounter on Thursday, Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Musa Danmadami said troop’s in conjunction with other security agencies also raided a suspected Indigenous People of Biafra camp at Obowo and Aboh Mbiase Local Government Area in Imo State, adding however, that the criminals fled on sighting the troops.
“Troops exploited the general area and recovered 3 locally made RPG bombs, 1 locally made RPG tube, 2 AK47 rifles, 2 pump action guns, 30 rounds of 7.62mm special, 58 rounds of MK2 ammo, 9 canisters, 2 AK47 magazines, 2 pump actions cartridges, 1 locally made pistol, 1 dane gun, 3 pairs of combat boots, 11 vests, 2 vehicles and 7 mobile phones among other items.
“On the same day, troops acted on credible information on the convergence of Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network criminals and raided a hotel along Okigwe-Umahia in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State and arrested 16 suspected criminals.
“Troops searched the general area and recovered 2 locally made pump action guns, 2 locally made pistol, 1 brownie pistol, 2 MK2 magazines and other sundry items.
In the battle against bandits/terrorists, Danmadami said troops apprehended a terrorists collaborator at Madachi in Dandume Local Government Area of Katsina State at a check point with sum of One Million Five Hundred and Ninety Thousand Naira (N1,590,000).
On interrogation, “the suspect revealed that he was sent by one Nasiru, a notorious terrorist on the wanted list of security agents, responsible for the killing of several locals in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State”.
“Troops conducted operations around Tungan Rafin Toba village in Birnin Gwari Local Government area and had encounter with terrorists on motorcycles. Following a fire fight, troops neutralized 2 terrorists and recovered 2 AK47 rifles, 51 rounds of 7.62mm special, 4 AK47 riles magazines, 5 mobile phones, motorcycles and the sum of Two Hundred and Six thousand Naira (N206,000) among other items.
“Between 7 and 8 January 2023 troops conducted dawn attack at terrorists crossing points in Sunke and Gado forest in Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State. In these operations troops neutralized 10 terrorists, recovered 8 AK47 rifles, 1 FN rifle, 1 PKT machine gun, 1 RPG bombs, 137 rounds of PKT ammunition, 48 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 2 FN rifle magazines, 12 mobile phones, 1 Toyota Corolla car, 13 motorcycles among others items.
“Equally, troops in conjunction with the Nigerian Police conducted operations in Magama area in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State. Following the encounter, 2 terrorists were neutralized while 2 AK47 rifles and 3 magazines loaded with 90 rounds of 7.62mm special and 2 mobile phones among other items were recovered.
“Troop’s also raided identified terrorists hideout behind Olam Farms along Kaduna highway in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State and recovered 1 pump action rifle, 2 motorcycles, 4 mobile phones and sum of One Hundred and Ten Thousand Naira (N110,000.00) after the criminal’s fled.
In the FCT, “troops conducted a follow-up operation following the arrest of a terrorist on 29 December 2022 at Kawuri forest in Bwari Area Council of the FCT and recovered 3 burnt AK 47 rifles, 5 burnt AK 47 magazines and some exploded rounds as result of bush buning in the forest”.
In the South-South,troops of Operation Delta Safe in the conduct of Operation Octopus Grip discovered and destroyed several illegal refining sites, equipment’s and petroleum products as well as apprehended some suspected criminals.
“Consequently, troops discovered and destroyed several illegal refining sites, 1,075 cooking ovens, 343 storage tanks, 154 dugout pits and 28 wooden boats.
“Troops also recovered 2 barge, 7 tankers, 56 cars, 12 pumping machines, 1 outboard engine, 1 speedboat, 1 tug boat, 7 motorcycles and 1 tricycle.
“Additionally, troops recovered 854,500 litres of crude oil, 1,055,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil and 2,000 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosine, 1 AK47 rifle while 19 suspected economic saboteurs were also arrested.
“It is worthy of mentoring that crude oil and products worth the sum of N810.95million were denied oil thieves. All recovered items and apprehended suspects have been handed over to the appropriate authority for further action
“Equally, the air component of Operation Delta Safe conducted air interdiction operation over Okomabio, identified as illegal refining site which was observed to be active with white and blue coloured makeshift tents. The location was targeted and bombarded with several illegal refining equipment destroyed thereby deterring oil thieves from operating within the Niger Delta region of the country.”
From Dan Amasingha, Minna
Gallant Military personnel have repelled an attempt by some bandits to rustle cows and neutralized the criminal gang leader .
Two of the Military Personnel who participated in the operation however, sustained gun shot injuries.
DAILY ASSET gathered that, the incident happened at the early hours of Monday at a military base in Tegina, Rafi local government area of Niger state.
During the early hours fire fight between the security personnel and the criminals, one of the bandits suspected to be their leader was killed in the process when they came under superior fire power.
It was reliably gathered that the said criminals were allegedly crossing towards Mashegu and Wushishi local government areas of the state to rustle a targeted groups of cattle in those areas.
The Chairman of Rafi local government council, Alhaji Ayuba Usman Katako confirmed this in a telephone interview in Minna.
He said the two soldiers shot were responding to treatment at IBB Specialized Hospital Minna while one of the bandits suspected to be their leader was neutralized.
Ayuba Katako further revealed that the military, police and vigilantes are trying their best in ensuring peace and security of lives and properties in the state and deserved to be commended.
He decried the continuous attacks on security personnel, but called on citizens for patience, support and prayers to overcome the menace of insecurity bedeviling the state and Nigeria at large.
The Niger state military cantonment in Minna could not be reached at the time of filing in the report.
Niger East Senatorial District has been bedeviled by insecurity with bandits targeting schools, vulnerable farming communities and public institutions in the last seven years.
The Nigeria Police arrested 31,912 suspects over armed robbery, kidnapping, rape, unlawful possession of fire arms, cultism, murder and other criminal offences in one year nationwide.
The Force Public Relations Officers, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said this during a media briefing on Wednesday in Abuja.
He said 4,826 of the suspects were arrested over armed robbery, 3,078, kidnapping, 2,479, rape, 1,243, unlawful possession of fire arms, 3,523 cultism, 3,381, murder and 13, 402, other criminal offences.
Adejobi said the force rescued 1,750 kidnap victims, recovered 2,566 firearms, 19,510 rounds of ammunition and 1,475 vehicles/motorcycles nationwide within the period under review.
According to him, the force, also, prosecuted 29,152 criminal cases across the country, with 17,679 of the cases being conclusively dispensed while 11,576 are still ongoing during the period.
He said 51 of the cases were currently under appeal at the respective appellate courts.
“Out of the dispensed cases, an impressive 16,200 have led to the conviction of suspects who have been handed various forms of punishments for their criminal acts,” he said.
Adejobi said operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Nigeria Police had recently arrested 19 suspects over criminal activities across the country.
He said five AK-47 rifles; five pump action rifles, 150 live cartridges, one bullet proof jacket, one night vision telescope and vigilante uniforms were recovered from the suspects.
Adejobi added that one torch light, one boot, one AA ammunition, six magazines and 142 AK-47 live ammunition were also recovered from the suspects.
The police spokesman said two of the suspects were arrested over kidnapping through coordinated efforts of IRT operatives and local vigilante groups in Asawa village in Kogi.
According to him, the suspects had received N1 million ransom from their first and second operations, N300,000 from the third and N2 million from the fourth.
He said the suspects were responsible for the series of robberies and kidnappings along Abuja-Okene-Benin road.
The police spokesman said the suspects had been involved in kidnapping for over four years and had orchestrated four successful kidnappings.
He said the criminal activities of the duo came to an end following a fierce gun battle with police operatives, where they were captured after exhausting their ammunition.
Adejobi said AK-47 rifles and magazines were recovered from the suspects.
He said two suspects with over 22 years of “one chance” robbery experience were also arrested by police operatives.
Adejobi said the suspects had demonstrated a mastery of deceptive tactics used in the criminal activities, adding that the duo was identified as persons of interest following interrogations of previous ‘one chance’ suspects.
He said the suspects were arrested in Suleja, Niger by diligent operatives of the IRT.
Adejobi said the suspects would be charged to court upon conclusion of investigation into the cases.
From Attah Ede, Makurdi
The Benue State police command yesterday, confirmed the kidnapping of two female students of the Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University Makurdi (JOSTUM).
Daily Asset correspondent learnt that the two victims were kidnapped on Saturday night along the road leading to the university.
The State command Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Sewuese Anene who confirmed the incident to newsmen in Makurdi could not reveal the names of the victims and their levels of study.
She admitted that the incident took place on Saturday night about 11pm along North Bank/UniAgric Road Makurdi and said that the incident did not take place within the university campus.
According to her, the unknown gunmen blocked the road, attacked and took the victims before the security operatives could arrive at the scene of the incident.
“The family and school authorities have notified the Command and investigation into the matter is ongoing”, she stated.
When contacted, the deputy registrar, information and public relations of the institution, Mrs. Iwodi, said that she cannot speak to the press unless she gets permission from her boss.
She promised to call back after securing a mandate to speak but she could not call back again and could not be reachable again as at the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, Police in the State yesterday, have killed three suspected kidnappers, arrested one person and rescued two victims during a gun battle with the bandits.
According to a statement in Makurdi by the command spokesperson, Catherine Anene said the Operation Zenda Joint Task Force stormed a kidnapper hideout, and on sighting the police, the gang leader, Tersue Dada, aka “Causer”, engaged the team in a gun duel, but were overpowered by the superior firepower of the police.
Anene, said three suspects sustained gunshot injuries and were later confirmed dead at the hospital, adding that one of the suspects; Terver Tavershima of Tinenune, was arrested in Ukum Local Government Area.
She disclosed that two victims were rescued unhurt.
Anene intimated that the two victims said they were kidnapped from their homes at Ukum about a week ago and the sum of twenty-three million naira was placed on them as ransom to be paid by their families.
The statement quoted the Commissioner of Police, Hassan Steve Yabanet as calling on the good people of Sankera to cooperate with police teams sent to the area, as they continue to take the fight to criminals’ abodes in the area.
Items recovered from the scene include one AK-47 rifle, one Dane gun, assorted phones, a camouflage uniform and a motorcycle.
Terrorists Kill 12 in Kaduna Market Attack
Meanwhile, terrorists yesterday reportedly attacked and killed 12 persons at Maro Junction, a weekly Market in Maro Ward, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
A former chairman of the local government, Cafra Caino, who confirmed the development, said the assailants invaded the market around 3pm yesterday and opened fire.
According to him, 12 bodies have been recovered while 20 others who sustained various degrees of injuries have been taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
He explained that it was the second time the weekly market had been attacked while business owners and customers transacting businesses.
“The situation is critical and has thrown residents around the area into confusion while they scampered for safety in neighbouring villages.
“Security operatives drafted to the area have already left. We are appealing to the government to deploy security operatives to help restore normalcy,” he said.Meanwhile, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mansir Hassan, did not respond to calls and text messages sent to him by our correspondent as of the time of filling this report.
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