…Even as it neutralizes 212 terrorists, arrested 252 others this week
The Military said on Thursday that it would release a total of 313 suspects in detention for terrorism-related offenses to the Borno State government this week following the order of Federal High Court in Maiduguri.
Federal High Court sitting Maiduguri the Borno State capital on March 5, 2024 ordered their releases for want of evidence after the conclusion of investigation and other ancillary matters.
Director of Defence Media Operations Major General Edward Buba who disclosed this in Abuja said the cases were prosecuted by the Department of Prosecution, Federal Ministry of Justice.
He said that the military will comply with the court order and “accordingly they would be handed over to the Borno State Government for further action.”
Asked whether their releases would not further complicate the insecurity situation in the country like it did some years back when about 1000 were released , and how would the troops ensure they have evidences to justify arrests of terrorist? Major General Buba noted that “counter-insurgency operations are complex in nature, however the military would improve on battlefield evidences collections.”
Giving an up-date on military efforts to arrest killers of 17 soldiers including the Commanding Officer of 181 Amphibious Battalion on March 14, 2024, at Okuama Delta State, Major General Buba said that eight persons have been declared wanted in connection with the incident.
Those declared wanted are: Akpeywru Daniel Omotegbono (AKA Amagbem), Prof. Ekpekpo Arthur a Professor of Physics, Andaowei Dennis Bakriri, Akaa Malawa David, Sinclear Oliki, Clement Ikolo Ogbenerukevwe and Reuben Baru.
The director said that prior to the ugly incident, the military had shown good will and constructed several civic projects in Delta State. For instance, the construction of Multipurpose Hall and Borehole Projects in Patani LGA and Medical Outreach at Aladja Community in Udu LGA all in Delta State, among several others, adding that the elders and community leaders have an obligation to expose these wanted persons.
In response to a question, Buba said that if it becomes necessary bounties will be placed on the heads of all those the military had so far declared wanted.
Nevertheless he added, “troops would continue with their efforts until the culprits are found ,arrested, tried, and brought to justice by Nigerian law.”
“The banner of eight wanted persons involved with the killing including a woman is hereby released. Accordingly, it is necessary to state that citizens are our first line of intelligence and must rise to the occasion in honour of their nation.”
On the activities of troops during the week under review, he said that troops neutralised a total of 212 terrorists in action and arrested 252 persons. Troops also arrested 29 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 244 kidnapped hostages.
In the South South where economic sabotage had persisted he said troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of One Billion Fifty Million Seven and Fifteen Thousand Two Hundred and Sixty Naira (N1,050,715,260.00) only.
Troops discovered and destroyed 102 dugout pits, 41 boats, 36 storage tanks and 8 vehicles. Other items recovered incl 39 cooking ovens, 6 pumping machines and 61 illegal refining sites. Troops recovered 944,700 litres of stolen crude oil, 171,060 litres of illegally refined AGO and 1,500 litres of DPK.
From the other theatres, troops recovered 223 assorted weapons and 2,756 assorted ammunition with the breakdown as follows: 3 M56 rifles, 115 AK47 rifles, 3 PKT gun, 24 locally fabricated gun, 36 dane guns, 7 locally fabricated pistols, one fabricated revolver pistol, 3 locally made single barrel guns, 2 hand grenades and one locally made explosive
Others are: 1,716 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 494 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 60 rounds of 7.62 x 25mm ammo, 290 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 81 rounds of 9mm ammo, 2 live cartridges, 16 magazines, 3 M56 rifles magazines, one HH radio, 5 vehicles, 14 motorcycles, 15 mobile phones and the sum of N857,960.00 amongst other items.
Major General Buba said the foregoing record indicates that troops are weathering the storm through offensive posture and improved understanding of modus operandi of the adversary, adding “we are doing our best to rescue other hostages in terrorist captivity.”
In this war, he noted, citizens should always remember that “they are our first line of intelligence. Therefore, as citizens, we have a collective responsibility of doing right.”