By Linus Aleke
The Defence Headquarters on Thursday said a suspected foreign logistic supplier and arms dealer to the Boko Haram Terrorists/Islamic State of West Africa Province named Mallam Abatcha Bukar has been arrested with assorted injections, 2 Automated Teller Machine Cards and the sum of N294,520.00 only.

It also, disclosed that troops equally arrested a Boko Haram intelligence agent on its wanted list in Asokoro, Abuja.

Another arms dealer was also apprehended in Zamfara State within the period under review, the DHQ said.

Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Musa Danmadami said this in Abuja, during the bi-weekly briefing on military operations across the nation.

He also, disclosed that no fewer than five hundred and fifty-six (556), terrorists and their families surrendered to troops of Operation Hadin Kai in two weeks.

According to him, “Troops of Operation HADIN KAI conducted operational activities at the fringes of various villages and communities in Kukawa, Dikwa, Bama, Kaga, Monguno, Guzamala, Konduga, Gwoza and Mafa Local Government Areas all in Borno State as well as Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State. During the operations, troops neutralized 52 suspected Boko Haram Terrorists/Islamic State of West Africa Province fighters and arrested 14 terrorists. Troops also, recovered 2 unexploded grenades, 12 AK47 rifles, 3 FN rifles, 5 AK47 magazines, 1 automatic grenade launcher, 1 hand grenade, 1 AP mine, 86 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, one motorcycle, 16 bows and arrows, 7 bicycles and 10 mobile phones. Furthermore, troops also rescued 3 abducted Chibok girls named Jinkai Yama, Falmata Lawal and Asabe Ali who were on serial 3, 20 and 24 of the abducted Chibok girl’s list. They were rescued at different locations with their children and 19 other abductees.

“In a related development, on 3 September 2022, the land and air component of Operation HADIN KAI in a coordinated attack on identified terrorist enclaves at Gabchari in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State dealt a deadly blow on the terrorists, as their enclaves were bombarded. The air strike resulted in the neutralization of a large number of the insurgents, while the land component mopped up the fleeing terrorists. Feedback from various sources revealed that over 200 terrorists were neutralized, including 5 high profiled Commanders. Equally, a total of 556 suspected Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists and their families, comprised of 115 Adult males, 189 females and 252 children, surrendered to their own troops at different locations. All arrested suspects and recovered items have been handed over to the appropriate authority while the surrendered terrorists and their families are being profiled for further action.

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“Similarly, the tactical surveillance troops arrested a Boko Haram informant named Mamuda Usman (aka Bado) in Asokoro, the Federal Capital Territory. It was revealed that the suspect ran errands for a suspected high-profiled Boko Haram Terrorist Commander in Kaduna, who is on the tracking list of security agencies. The arrested suspect is in custody for further action. On the same day, troops on clearance operations responded to a distress call on a kidnapping incident at Changal village in Mangu Local Government Area and Pinau village in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State. Consequently, troops trailed and rescued the kidnapped victims from their abductors while the kidnappers fled on sighting the troops. Similarly, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE on patrol responded swiftly to two separate kidnapping incidents at ChaChangi village in Takun Local Government Area and Rafin Kada village in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State. Consequently, troops embarked on a rescue operation and exchanged fire with the bandit and arrested Mr Alex Apera aged 26 years and Mr Umaru Halilu aged 34 years. All arrest and rescued victims were handed over to the relevant authority for further action”.

While, denying the alleged involvement of the Nigerian military in oil theft, as insinuated by NNPC management, Gen. Danmadami said that the military recorded tremendous successes in other theatres of operations across the federation within the two weeks period.