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The Nigerian Army says it has arrested four suspected “high profile criminals” in Rivers State who had been on security agencies’ wanted list.
Those arrested, according to a release from the Nigerian Army Operations media coordinator, Colonel Aminu Iliyasu, include Dumbari Bro from B-Dere community, Victor Dokara from K-Dere community, Gbaraco Kaviloba from Lewe and Confidence Friday from Bodo community.
Colonel Iliyasu said: “Troops on Operation ‘Mesa’ raided the criminal hide-outs of some identified kidnap kingpins in Rivers State. The suspected kidnappers who have been terrorising innocent citizens met their waterloo when troops of 29 Battalion simultaneously raided the said criminal hideouts in Obio/Akpor, Tai and Gokana local government areas of Rivers State on 2nd October 2019.”
He said the raid led to the arrest of the four “high profile criminals who have been on security agencies’ wanted list,” adding that the suspects are currently undergoing interrogations and will soon be handed over to the appropriate security agency for prosecution.
Colonel Iliyasu further noted that following the Nigerian Army’s drive to “clear marauding criminal insurgents and other unscrupulous elements from Operation ‘Lafiya Dole’ and other theatres of operations nationwide, troops of 151 Battalion, in conjunction with elements of 21 Special Armoured Brigade’s Quick Response Force (QRF), thwarted the kidnap of three civilians by the criminal insurgents.
“This rescue operation occurred at about 12:20 pm on 4 October 2019 when the said troops, while acting on information volunteered by some patriotic indigenes, blocked and engaged the criminal insurgents in a fierce fire-fight at a crossing point around Firgi village in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State, leading to the rescue of the civilians and a Canter truck loaded with grains.
“The criminal insurgents, who succumbed to the superior fire power of the troops, abandoned the hijacked truck and its occupants and fled in disarray into the forest. The gallant troops are still on the trail of the criminal insurgents while the rescued victims have been escorted safely back to their destination.
“Troops continue to dominate the area and deny the criminal elements freedom of action within the entire theatre of operation,” he said.
In another development, at about 9:30 am on 5 October 2019, troops of 114 Task Force Battalion, while on clearance operation, discovered 2 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted by criminal insurgents along Bitta-Yamteke Road. Colonel Iliyasu said the devices were successfully detonated by the Explosive Ordinance Disposal team, thus making the route safe again for commuters.
“The chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai, wishes to once more appeal to the good citizens of our great country to continue to support the Nigerian Army’s resolve to completely rid their communities of criminal elements by providing useful information to effectively tackle the myriad of the security challenges facing the nation,” he said.