Troops Arrest Wife, Son of Dreaded BHT in Adamawa

Troops Arrest Wife, Son of Dreaded BHT in
Adamawa

1. The Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies have
continued their major operations across the country with attendant
successes. The various operations have progressed satisfactorily in
all the theatres. In this regard, I will be updating you on the
operations in line with our weekly schedule. This briefing will
cover from 10 – 17 September 2020.
NORTH-WEST ZONE
2. In continuation of intensive clearance operations in the
North-West zone of the country, troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI
have continued to record serial successes against armed bandits.
Within the period under review, troops of Operation SAHEL SANITY
acting on actionable intelligence arrested one illegal arms
supplier named Usman Ibrahim from Ryom in Barkin Ladi LGA of
Plateau State. The suspect was arrested with 890 rounds of 7.62mm
special ammunition carefully concealed in his vehicle. Other items
recovered from him include, 1 Jack knife, 1 Pistol Grip, a Nigerian
Police ID card and the sum of Two Million Two Hundred and Thirty
Naira (N2,230,000). Preliminary investigation revealed that the
suspect is a major illegal arms dealer supplying bandits in the
North-West.

3. Furthermore, on 12 September 2020, troops conducting stop and
search operation in Gusau, Zamfara State based on reliable
intelligence arrested one male and one female suspects namely
Kabiru Dauda and Hafsat Musa with 9 parcels containing substances
suspected to be Cannabis and other illicit hard drugs. Preliminary
investigation revealed that suspects are suppliers of hard drugs to
bandits. Similarly, troops acting on credible intelligence arrested
a wanted suspected bandit named Usman Gorjo at Ungwar Alhaji
Danbuzu and a suspected bandit informant named Isah Bala at Daudawa
village. Suspects were arrested in connection with the killing of
the head of Daudawa vigilante group recently.

4. Relatedly, the Air Component of Operation HADARIN DAJI on 13
September 2020, decimated another armed bandits’ camp in the
Doumborou forest area of Zamfara State. The air strike was
conducted as part of a new subsidiary Operation, tagged Operation
WUTAN DAJI 2. The successful operation resulted in the killing of
several armed bandits belonging to the gang led by the so-called
‘Dangote’. Equally, on 15 September 2020, several armed bandits
along with their logistics facilities were destroyed in massive air
strikes conducted in the Kwiambana forest area of Zamfara
State.

5. In another development, troops of Operation SALAMA (an
internal security outfit in Jigawa State), raided the residence of
a suspected armed bandit at Kabaka Village in Gwiwa Local
Government Area of Jigawa State. During the raid, troops arrested
his wife and 4 others while 2 AK 47 rifles, 5 magazines and 149
rounds of ammunition were recovered.

6. Deducing from these successes recorded within the period, it
is clear that troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria working with
other security agencies are committed in their endeavor to end
banditry and other sundry crimes in the country. The Military High
Command commends the gallant troops for the successes achieved so
far and their commitment to duty. While the good people of the
North West are once again assured of Armed Forces of Nigeria’s
commitment to the safety of lives and property within the zone,
they are also encouraged to continue to avail the troops with
timely and credible information that will assist them in the
operations.

NORTH-EAST ZONE
7. In the North East Zone, the Armed Forces of Nigeria working
together with other security agencies have continued to sustain the
onslaught against the insurgents. Within the period under review,
troops recorded appreciable successes as several terrorists were
neutralized, while some, including their family members were
arrested with caches of arms and ammunition.
8. Troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE on 10 September 2020, in
conjunction with Civilian JTF on fighting patrol engaged BHT/ISWAP
elements at Kassa Kura in Maiduguri Town. In the course of the
encounter, 2 terrorists were neutralized. In a related development
on same day, troops successfully repelled 2 different terrorists’
attacks at Ngala and Baga Towns and recovered various categories of
arms and ammunition while 2 BHT/ISWAP fighters were killed in
contact. Meanwhile, at Ngurosoye Village of Bama Local Government
Area and Dalori Gari in Maiduguri Town of Borno State, troops
conducted ambush operations which led to the neutralization of 3
BHT/ISWAP elements and recovery of large cache of arms and
ammunition. In the same vein, on 11 September 2020, troops on
patrols at various locations in Borno State encountered ambushes
and attacks by BHT/ISWAP fighters. In all, troops with superior
firepower overwhelmed the terrorists and repelled them. The
operations led to the neutralization of 5 terrorists as others fled
with various degrees of gunshot wounds.
9. In another development, troops in conjunction with local
vigilantes on 14 September 2020, conducted cordon and search
operations at Gashua Local Government Area of Yobe State. The
operation led to the neutralization of 4 BHT /ISWAP fighters while
7 of them were arrested. This is in addition to 3 others arrested
on 13 September 2020 at the College of Agriculture in Gujba Local
Government Area of Yobe State. It is also worthy to mention that
the wife and son of one of BHT’s high profile member, Abdulrahman
Abdullahi had been earlier arrested by troops in Madagali Local
Government Area of Adamawa State on 7 September 2020.
10. Gleaning from the records of these operations, there is no
gaining saying that the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security
operatives are resolute in their determination to end the
insurgency and achieve sustainable peace in the North East zone of
the Country.
NORTH-CENTRAL ZONE
11. In the North Central zone, the Armed Forces of Nigeria have
continued to sustain the tempo in the fight against criminality
through the conduct of aggressive clearance patrols, ambushes and
raids amongst others which have yielded remarkable results. During
the period under review, these ongoing kinetic efforts were
supported by Civil Military Cooperation (CIMIC) activities in the
form of stakeholders’ meetings amongst the various ethnic groups in
the zone.
12. Within the period, troops of operations WHIRL STROKE and SAFE
HAVEN conducted several clearance operations to identified bandits
camps. Notably, troops of Sector one of Operation WHIRL STROKE, in
the early hours of 14 September 2020 raided an armed bandits’ camp
at the forest boundary between Benue and Nasarawa States. The
operation was conducted following credible intelligence on the
presence of armed bandits harbouring in the general area. Troops
engaged the criminals with superior fire power forcing several
bandits to flee with various degrees of gunshot wounds.
13. Similarly, following actionable intelligence on the possible
hideout of remnants of late Gana’s militia elements around Adu
general area in Chanchanji council ward of Takum Local Government
Area of Taraba State, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE conducted a
joint dawn raid operation on the identified hideout at Adu. In the
course of the operation, troops neutralized 2 armed militias and
recovered 2 locally made pistols. Thereafter, troops carried out
another raid operation on another identified armed bandits’ hideout
at Chanchanji in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State and
Sai in Katsina Ala Local Government Area of Benue State during
which 3 suspects were arrested while 16 handsets, some charms and
some substances suspected to be Indian hemp were also recovered.
The suspects are currently undergoing preliminary investigation
after which they will be handed over to the police for further
action.
14. In a related development, troops of operation SAFE HAVEN,
between 13 and 15 September 2020 raided hideouts of suspected
criminals within Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
A total of 25 suspects were apprehended while one locally
fabricated pistol loaded with one round of 9mm ammunition was
recovered during the course of the operation. Substances suspected
to be Cannabis Sativa and other illicit drugs were also recovered
by troops.
15. Furthermore, on 16 September 2020, troops of Operation SAFE
HAVEN in conjunction with operatives of the Department of State
Services, Plateau State Command, conducted a raid operation on
hideouts of suspected gunrunners at Kurgwi and Kwande communities
of Qu’an Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State. Troops
apprehended a suspected gun runner one Mr Rayyanu Mohammed AKA
“Star” with 2 single barrel guns, one fabricated rifle, one
fabricated pistol, and 12 cartridges. It is noteworthy to mention
that the suspect is a close associate of the notorious gunrunner
Christopher Ngwu who was earlier arrested in Bakin Ciyawa village
on 8 September 2020. Both suspects and items recovered have been
handed over to the DSS team for further action.
16. Similarly, on 17 September 2020, troops of operation SAFE HAVEN
conducted another raid operation on suspected drug peddlers and
criminal hideouts within Barkin Ladi town of Plateau State. Troops
apprehended a notorious drug peddler one Lawan Auwal with large
amounts of substances suspected to be Cannabis Sativa, amongst
other illicit drugs. The suspect and exhibits have been handed over
to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further
action.
17. As part of Civil Military Cooperation activities within the
period under review, Headquarters Operation SAFE HAVEN fostered
several stakeholders meetings with community leaders in various
parts of Plateau and Kaduna States. Areas covered include: Bokkos,
Bassa, Jos, Barkin Ladi, and Riyom Local Government Areas of
Plateau State, as well as Zangon- Kataf and Jama’a Local Government
Areas of Kaduna State. These efforts are expected to achieve the
desired result with the provision of credible and actionable
intelligence specifically from primary sources. In this regard, the
locals are requested to cooperate with the security agencies by
availing them with the required information which will be useful to
our collective objective of taking out the criminals from the
zone.

SOUTH-SOUTH ZONE

18. Troops of Operation DELTA SAFE have continued with the
aggressive fight against crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and
illegal oil bunkering in the zone with attendant successes. Within
the period under review, the patrol team of Forward Operating Base
BONNY acting on credible intelligence on 13 September 2020,
immobilized an illegal refinery containing tanks filled with about
307,300 litres of illegally refined AGO at Orutoro fishing camp in
Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State. Relatedly, on same
day, Nigerian Navy Ship DELTA patrol team dismantled a reactivated
illegal refinery containing tanks filled with about 595,000 litres
of illegally refined AGO at Banga Community in Delta State.

19. Also, within this period, Nigerian Navy Ship PATHFINDER
patrol team located and immobilized an illegal refining site at
Mudukiri Creek, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State. The
site had a metal reservoir laden with an estimated 150,000 litres
of illegally refined AGO. In the same vein, Forward Operating Base
BONNY patrol team discovered and dismantled an illegal refining
site in Ataba, Andoni LGA of Rivers State. The team discovered 8
metal storage tanks and 4 dugout pits laden with about 1,289.45
barrels of product suspected to be stolen crude oil.

20. In the same vein, Nigerian Navy Ship JUBILEE clearance
operation team acting on credible intelligence on a suspected
pirates and sea robber’s camp at Otoyo, Akwa-Ibom State, raided the
camp. The patrol team came under fire. However, the overwhelming
fire power of own personnel led to the forceful withdrawal of the
pirates leading to their dislodgement and deactivation of the camp.
The team recovered one AK 47 rifle with 2 magazines, 2 Pump Action
Rifles, 20 rounds of 7.62 and 39mm ammunition, one Fishing Gun, one
Tecno phone, a bag of hard drugs, one diving face mask and one hand
held metal detector.

21. In a related development, between 12 and 17 September 2020,
Forward Operating Base IBAKA patrol team while on routine patrol
around Utan Inyata Creek arrested 2 suspects and 2 small-sized
wooden boats laden with 165 bags of 50kg of foreign parboiled rice
suspected to be smuggled from the Republic of Cameroon. The items
and suspects are currently in custody of the Base and will be
handed over to Nigeria Customs Service Component of Operation SWIFT
RESPONSE for further action. Also, within the period under review,
Forward Operating Base IBAKA patrol team arrested 5 suspects with
45 drums of products suspected to be Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
The suspects and items are currently in custody and will be handed
over to NSCDC Uyo Command for further necessary action.
22. Gleaning from these, it is clear that, troops of the Armed
Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies working together
remain committed to the fight against economic sabotage and other
sundry crimes in the South-South zone of the country.
SOUTH-WEST ZONE

23. In the South West zone, Troops of Operation AWATSE have
continued to intensify the fight against pipeline vandals, economic
saboteurs and other criminal elements. Notably, on 11 September
2020, Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT handed over MT SEA SUPPLY and her
crew to NIMASA after proper documentation in line with the existing
Standard Operating Procedure. Recall, that the vessel and her crew
members were arrested on 31 Jul 2020 for sailing without obtaining
requisite documents.

24. Furthermore, on 12 September 2020, the patrol team of
Forward Operating Base IGBOKODA immobilized 3 illegal refineries
containing 30,000 litres of illegally refined AGO at Agbelemsema
Zion 2, a border community between Ese Odo and Warri North Local
Government Areas of Ondo and Delta States respectively. Troops have
continued to dominate the general area with clearance and
aggressive patrols while maintaining surveillance to rid the area
of pipeline vandals and other economic saboteurs.

25. The Military High Command commends all the gallant troops of
the Armed Forces and personnel of other security agencies involved
in various operations across the country for their commitment,
determination and dedication. They are equally encouraged to remain
firm and decisive in curtailing the activities of all criminal
elements in the country. Members of the general public are hereby
assured that the Armed Forces of Nigeria working with other
security agencies will continue to tackle the security challenges
and will ensure that normalcy is attained in all the geo-political
zones of the Country. However their support is highly solicited in
the area of providing credible information to assist our
operations. Thank you.

JOHN ENENCHE
Major General
Coordinator
Defence Media Operations
Defence Headquarters
18 September 2020