Nigerian Army Makes Arrests, Identifies Terrorist Financier In Kaduna

The Nigerian Army confirmed that it arrested at least ten notorious terrorists recently while combing criminal elements from Kaduna State.

The top security arm in its bi-weekly reports of operations revealed that it identified one Alhaji Abubakar as the financier of two terrorist collaborators arrested in Zaria recently, Naija News reports.

The operation reportedly carried out by troops of Operation Hadarin Daji also helped in the rescue of twenty-one kidnapped victims from different locations in the state.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadami, while giving details of the operation in the briefing handed down to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday, September 22, noted that the troops arrested the suspects on Sept. 15 at Access Bank, PZ Branch in Zaria.

According to him, the terrorists were trying to withdraw the sum of N14 million deposited into the account of Abubakar when the troops cornered them.

He said relevant agencies were working assiduously to track the said financier and others who had been fingered for terrorism financing.

While reiterating the commitment of the military and other security agencies to ending terrorism in the country, Danmadami said the troops conducted operational activities in villages, communities, and towns in Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina and the Kaduna States during the period and neutralized 16 terrorists.

He said the air component on Sep. 13, conducted an air interdiction operation at an identified terrorist hideout in Dutse Babare in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State.

He said: “The air strike led to the neutralization of a terrorist leader identified as Ibrahim Dangawo and other members of his gang.

“Similar, operation was carried out at Gidan Guga in Faskari Local Government Area also in Katsina State, at an identified terrorist enclave.

“The airstrike led to the neutralization of a terrorist kingpin known as Babaru who has been on the wanted list of security agents.”

Danmadami said the troops also neutralized a large number of terrorists in an air raid at Kawari axis in Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State. He said it was revealed that the terrorist group had been responsible for kidnapping and robbery incidents in the area.

Narrating further in the report, Danmadami said the Commander, Operation Safe Haven, on Sept. 10, held a joint peace summit to sensitise communities in Plateau on the need for peaceful coexistence.

He said the summit was part of the non-kinetic approach to resolving lingering security challenges in the state. He said the air component of Operation Whirl Punch on Sept. 8, carried out an air interdiction operation at an identified terrorist hideout at Gaude, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger, killing scores of terrorists.

“It was further revealed that all the attacks around Shiroro were orchestrated from this location and consequently, the hideout was bombarded.

“Feedback revealed that several terrorists were neutralized with others fleeing with various degrees of injuries.

“Also, two suspected gun runners en route Onitsha to Abuja were arrested by personnel of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency along Okene-Lokoja road in Kogi State.

“Items recovered from the suspects were 12 pump action guns and 374 cartridges.

“The arrested suspects and recovered items were handed over to the Nigerian Police for further action,” he noted.