Troops Intercept Illegal Arms, Arrest Suspects in Nationwide Crackdown
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Troops Intercept Illegal Arms, Arrest Suspects in Nationwide Crackdown
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The Armed Forces of Nigeria have intercepted caches of illegal arms while arresting several suspected terrorists and criminal collaborators in coordinated operations across the North-West and North-Central regions.
The Defence Headquarters disclosed this in its operational update released on Friday, saying the operations dealt significant blows to arms trafficking networks and terrorist logistics between June 19 and June 25.
According to the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, troops of Operation Whirl Stroke intercepted a vehicle along the Sokoto-Kano Highway on June 21 and recovered two AK-47 rifles, nine magazines, 67 rounds of ammunition, two Beretta pistols, communication radios and camouflage jackets after the courier abandoned the vehicle and fled.
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Onoja described the interception as a major disruption of an illegal arms supply route into the North-Central region.
In a separate operation along the Toto-Abaji Road in Nasarawa State, security operatives arrested a suspect found with 174 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.
The Defence Headquarters also said troops of Operation Fansan Yamma arrested four suspected terrorists in Zamfara State and foiled an attack on Gamdanda village in Gummi Local Government Area after laying a successful ambush.
Recovered items included an AK-47 rifle, ammunition, motorcycles and food supplies.
The military further disclosed that three suspected terrorist collaborators were arrested during the screening of pilgrims arriving at Gusau International Airport, while another suspected terrorist was apprehended during a raid in Kano State.
In Katsina State, troops raided a bandit enclave in Matazu Local Government Area, killing four suspected bandits in separate operations and recovering two PKT machine guns, linked ammunition, motorcycles and military camouflage uniforms.
The Defence Headquarters said investigations were ongoing to dismantle the criminal networks linked to those arrested.
