By ZAKAA LAZARUS, Abuja
Defence Headquarters has confirmed the arrest several notorious kidnappers and a gun runner Mohammed Musa also known as Mamman during an operation in Plateau State.
The military high command also said it’s troops
continued onslaught and aggression against terrorist across the various theatres of operation in the country have neutralized 181 criminals and arrested neutralized 181 and arrested 203 other persons in one week
Director, Defence Media Operations DDMO, Major General Edward Buba said the fighting was intense in the North West theatre with dry season operations fully on course.
He said several notorious kidnappers and a notorious gun runners identified as Mohammed Musa (aka Mamman) was arrested in Plateau State, among others.
General Buba said all efforts are aimed at degrading terrorist wherever they are hibernating or hiding.
He said during the week under review, troops neutralized 181 and arrested 203 persons.
He said Troops also arrested 50 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 161 kidnapped hostages.
“In the South South, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of Seven Hundred and Twenty Eight Million Two Hundred and Ninty Seven Thousand Six Hundred and Fifty Naira (N728,297,650.00) only.
“Furthermore, troops recovered 228 assorted weapons and 6,749 assorted ammunition.
He however gave breakdown of items recovered as follows: 4 GPMGs, 3 G3 rifles, 85 AK47 rifles, 38 fabricated rifles, 36 dane guns, 12 FN rifles, 3 fabricated revolver pistol, 24 locally made pistols, 16 pump action guns, 2 single barrel guns, one berretta pistol, 4 hand grenades, 3 IEDs and 63 magazines.
“Others are: 2,891 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 1,354 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 586 rounds of 7.62 x 51mm ammo, 821 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammo, 12 rounds of 5.56mm ammo, 409 rounds of 7.62mm PKT ammo, 32 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm PKT ammo, 21 rounds of 9mm ammo, 618 live cartridges, 1,146 assorted empty cases of ammo, 3 bandoliers, 4 baofeng radios, 15 vehicles, 33 motorcycles, 42 mobile phones and the sum of N577,800.00 only amongst other items.
He said troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 25 crude oil cooking ovens, 10 dugout pits, 38 boats, 44 storage tanks and 47 illegal refining sites.
“Other items recovered include 6 speedboats, 3 receivers, 48 drums, 3 motorcycles, one mobile phone and 12 vehicles among others.
“Troops recovered 765,680 litres of stolen crude oil and 86,725 litres of illegally refined AGO.
He said troops will continue to act with tremendous force to ensure the terrorist and their cohorts are completely destroyed.
“Troops will also continue to create an atmosphere in which citizens live in peace and are safe from acts of terror”. General Buba said.
