Troops of the Nigerian Military have arrested the national president Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Alhaji Abdullahi Bello Bodejo; a notorious gunrunner identified as Mohammed Musa (aka Mamman) arrested in Barkin Ladi, Riyom and Bassa LGAs of Plateau State, a militia collaborator- an ally of a notorious Vioyior John Gata’s militia gang in Yorro, Zinna and Takum LGA of Taraba State amongst others.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba during the bi-weekly briefing with the press said within the week under review, various theatres of operation in the country continued their aggression against the activities of terrorists, bandits and kidnappers across the nation and fighting was intense in the NW theatre with dry season operations fully on course.
During the week under review, the troops neutralised 181 and arrested 203 persons. 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. The breakdown 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.
Meanwhile, 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.
The director assured Nigerians that the military will continue to act with tremendous force to ensure the terrorist and their cohorts are completely destroyed so as to create an atmosphere in which citizens can live in peace and are safe from acts of terror.
Zainab Uzomah
