By ZAKAA LAZARUS
The Defence Headquarters has confirmed the arrest of two terrorist informants and one ammunition courier in separate operations around Suleja and Borgu LGA of Niger State, FCT Abuja respectively.
The Military High Command named the alleged criminals to include:Zakari Abubakar and Aliyu Musa and Rufai Abdullahi.
In statement issued by the Director, Defence Media Operations DDMO, Major General Markus Kangye said items recovered from the criminals include; arms and ammunition, monies, locally fabricated guns as well as motorcycles.
In military operations in the south South,
troops of Operation DELTA SAFE foiled oil theft worth over One Hundred and Three Million Nine Hundred and Nine Thousand Four Hundred and Twenty Two Naira (N103, 909,422.00) only during the week.
“The breakdown indicates: 68,875 litres of stolen crude oil, 31,166 litres of illegally refined AGO and 2,250 litres of DPK. Additionally, they discovered and destroyed 16 crude oil cooking ovens, 31 dugout pits, 19 boats, 34 storage tanks, 79 drums and 18 illegal refining sites.
“Other items recovered include, pumping machines, drilling machines, tricycles, motorcycles, mobile phones and 7 vehicles.
“From 8- 14 May 2025, scores of terrorists comprising adult males and females as well as children surrendered to troops as operational tempo heightened up during the week
“Between 9 – 14 May 2025, troops in conjunction with Hybrid Forces, conducted offensive operations including fighting patrols, raids and clearance operations in Mafa, Dikwa, Gwoza and Damboa LGAs of Borno State. During the operations, some terrorists were neutralized, while 17 kidnapped victims were rescued.
” Troops arrested 2 terrorists’ logistics suppliers in well-coordinated operations conducted in Gwoza and Gubio on 12 May 2025.
“Between 8 – 14 May 2025, troops conducted fighting patrols and made contact with terrorists in Sabon Birni, Isa Goronyo and Tangaza LGAs of Sokoto State as well as Anka, Gusau, Tsafe, Bungudu and Shinkafi LGAs of Zamfara State. During the encounters, some terrorists were neutralized, while 42 kidnapped victims were rescued.
According to General Kangye, some weapons as well as assorted ammunition, extra magazines, vehicles, boefeng radios and motorcycles were also recovered.
He said troops responded to information about terrorists’ activities in Zurmi, Gusau, Maru, Bukkuyum, Shinkafi and Kaura Namoda LGAs of Zamfara as well as Sabuwa, Kankara, and Gudu LGAs of Katsina and Sokoto States from 8 – 15 May 2025. During the encounters, troops neutralized some terrorists and rescued over 87 kidnapped victims. Own medical team and Red-Cross Nigeria administered first aid to the victims, while effort is going to hand them over to appropriate authorities for further action.
“Arms and ammunition as well as vehicles, motorcycles and livestock were also recovered from them.
“Similarly, troops while on cordon and search operations, arrested 2 suspected drug peddlers in Gwadabawa LGA of Sokoto State on 9 April 2025. They recovered 2 bundles of cannabis, assorted illicit drugs and the sum of N110,000.00 from them.
“During the period under review, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN conducted the following operations:
” From 8 – 13 May 2025, troops while conducting offensive operations, made contact with extremists in Riyom, Qua’An Pan, Bokkos and Jos South LGAs of Plateau State. During the encounters, our gallant troops neutralized some extremists and arrested a suspected Gunrunner with assorted arms and ammunition as well as the sum of N157,900.00 in his possession .
“Troops, while on anti-kidnapping and anti-criminality operations responded to credible intelligence about criminal activities in Jos South, Mangu and Bassa between 8 – 10 May 2025. During the operations, some extremists were neutralized and 2 others arrested, while some arms and ammunition as well as motorcycles and livestock were recovered from them.
” From 8 – 12 May 2025, troops acting on a tip-off arrested 7 suspected criminals/kidnappers in Jema’a and Kaura LGAs of Kaduna State as well as Bassa, Jos South, Barkin Ladi and Riyom LGAs of Plateau State. Also, troops raided 2 gunrunning/kidnappers syndicates in Jema’a and Barkin Ladi LGAs of Kaduna and Plateau State on 8 and 12 May 2025 respectively. They recovered weapons, ammunition and motorcycles.
“Between 8 – 10 May 2025, troops while conducting offensive operations, made contact with violent extremists in Ado and Guma LGAs of Benue State as well as Lokoja and Kabba LGAs of Kogi State. They also conducted operations in Lafiaji and Wukari LGAs of Kwara and Taraba States respectively. During the encounters, our gallant troops neutralized some extremists and recovered arms and ammunition as well as motorcycles and mobile phones from them.
“From 8 – 13 May 2025, troops while on anti-kidnapping and anti-criminality operations responded to information about criminal activities in Kwande, Otukpo and Buruku LGAs of Benue State as well as Suleja LGA of Niger State. During the operations, they arrested 3 criminals and recovered weapons and ammunition
“Similarly, from 9 – 11 May 2025 troops, acting on credible intelligence, arrested 7 suspected extremists in Logo and Guma LGAs of Benue State as well as Kaiama LGA of Kwara State respectively.
“Furthermore, they also conducted operations in Suleja and Borgu LGA were they arrested 2 wanted extremists’ informants and logistics suppliers identified as Zakari Abubakar and Aliyu Musa, while an ammunition courier identified as Rufai Abdullahi was apprehended in Gwagwalada Area Council of FCT. Items recovered from them were arms and ammunition as well as motorcycles. Criminals were handed over to appropriate authority for further action”. General Kangye added.
