Defence Headquarters said on Thursday that a coordinated land and air components operations were mounted by troops in repelling an attack by the Boko Haram Terrorist/Islamic State of West Africa State Province terrorists at Wawa military Cantonment in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State on October 29,2022.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Musa Danmadami said that following the engagement, troops neutralized 3 terrorists and captured 5 others.
Danmadami disclosed this during the bi-weekly press briefing covering the period between October 20 and November 3rd 2022 . He said troops have sustained the onslaught against terrorists and other criminal elements in their respective general area of operation with tremendous successes.
He said that after the battle at Cantonment environs the troops
recovered 1 HK 21 gun, 1 PKT gun, 598 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 676 rounds of 7.62 special, 3,902 rounds of AK49 ammunition, 2 RPG tubes, 7 RPG bombs, 1 grenade and 3 cartons of Improvised Explosive Devices accessories.
Other items recovered include 2 vehicles, 2 motorola radios, 2 radio chargers, cartons of drip, motorcycles, mobile phones and other sundry items.
Consequently, “a follow up and exploitation operation was conducted by troops in conjunction with vigilantes at Tungan Gagara and Damala villages where contacts was made with the terrorist, following the fire fight, 13 terrorist were arrested while several others jumped into the river.”.
According to the director, items recovered during the encounter include 5 AK47 rifles, 163 rounds of PKT gun, 169 rounds of 7.62mm special, and 5 AK47 magazines.
Other items recovered are 2 mobile phones, 2 HH radio and the sum of Fifty Two thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty Naira (N52,850.00) only. Consequently, similar operation was carried out on 1 November 2022 at Babusara village in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, during the encounter, troops neutralized 3 terrorists while other fled in disarray. Troops also recovered 2 AK47 rifles loaded with 112 rounds of 7.62mm special.
Equally, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE in conjunction with the Nigeria Police and NDLEA operatives on 28 October 2022 raided identified drug peddlers hideout around North bank in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State.
During the operation, 14 suspected illicit drug peddlers were arrested, with large quantities of substance suspected to be hard drugs.
Also, troops of Guards Brigade Abuja raided an illegal mining site at Tukashara Wasa, Apo in Abuja Municipal Area Council on 30 October 22 and arrested 60 suspected illegal miners as well recovered 4 dane guns, I locally fabricated gun, 14 cutlasses, 4 sleg hammers, 25 motorcycles, 1 vehicle and other items. Troops on the same day also arrested 2 trailers loaded with illegal mined items.
The director also said that between the 21 – 24 October 2022, troops of Operations SAFE HAVEN conducted raid operation at Burgel town in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State, Tangur village and Dorowa Bukuru town in Bokkos and Jos South Local Government Areas of Plateau State and arrested 5 suspected kidnappers.
They recovered from the suspects 2 wooden fabricated rifles, 1 round of 7.62mm special, 1 mobile phone, substance suspected to be cannabis sativa, and other illicit drugs.
Troops also raided villages in Qu’an Pan, Jos South, Jos East and Jema’s Local Government Areas of Plateau and Kaduna States and arrested 2 suspected drug peddlers, 3 suspected armed robbers and 2 suspected kidnappers.
While on 23 October 2022, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE based on intelligence on the movement of suspected kidnappers on Road Takun-Wakari in Taraba State, neutralized 2 suspected kidnappers as they attempted to escape on sighting own troops at their hideout.
Items recovered were 2 mobile phones, 1 power bank, 1 identification card, 1 bag containing charms, 1 bag containing drugs and the sum of N865,460.00 amongst others.
While, on 29 October 2022, based credible information a notorious kidnapper kingpin who escaped from custody during the Jos prison break was neutralized at Farin Kasa in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State as he trying to escape rearrest.