1,166 terrorists eliminated, 1,096 others apprehended by the Military –DHQ
1,166 terrorists eliminated, 1,096 others apprehended by the Military –DHQ
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says troops eliminated 1,166 terrorists and apprehended 1,096 suspects in 29 days across the country.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, made this known while briefing newsmen on the operations of the armed forces on Thursday in Abuja.
Buba said the troops also rescued 721 kidnapped hostages.
He said the troops also recovered 391 weapons, 15,234 ammunitions comprising 208 AK47 rifles, 54 locally fabricated guns, 53 dane guns, 36 pump action guns, and 10,452 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo within the month.
Others, according to him, are 1,991 rounds of 7.62mm
NATO, 293 cartridges, 42 assorted arms and 2,498 assorted ammunitions.
He said that several terrorist leaders and commanders were taken off the battlefield as a result of military onslaught during the month. #
According to him, those in the North Eeast include: Munir Arika, Sani Dilla (aka Dan Hausawan Jibilarram), Ameer Modu, Dan Fulani Fari Fari, Bakoura Araina Chikin, Dungusu, Abu Darda and Abu Rijab.
“Those in the North West include; Kachalla Dan Ali Garin Fadama, Kachalla Dan Mani Na Inna, Kachalla Basiru Zakariyya, Sani Baka Tsine, Inusa Zangon Kuzi, Ibrahim, Tukur and Kamilu Buzaru, among others.
“Ongoing operations across the country have significantly diminished the military capabilities of terror groups and denied the terrorist the ability to carry out major offensive.
“The situation experienced mostly these days are low level skirmishes and attacks on soft targets.
“We are aware that we are dealing with a shrewd, ruthless and brutal enemy that must be stopped from their acts of terror.
“Accordingly, the military is prepared to act with the relevant level of force that would be needed to dismantle these terror groups.
“Troops strategy is to undermine the abilities of these terror groups and create conditions whereby they cannot carry out acts of terror or harm citizens.
“Accordingly, the military has prioritised targeting the terrorist leaders, commanders, foot soldiers as well as their collaborators,’’ he said.
In the North East, Buba said the troops of Operations Hadin Kai, nutralised 292 terrorists, apprehended 254 suspects and rescued 213 kidnapped hostages during the month.
He added a total of 2,742 Boka Haram/ISWAP terrorists’ combatants and their families, surrendered to troops as well as recovery of large cache of arms and ammunition.
In the North Central, Buba said the troops of Operation Safe Haven neutralised 50 violent extremist, apprehended 290 and rescued 121 kidnap hostages as well as recovery of cache of arms.
Under Operation Whirl Stroke, he said the troops neutralised 37 terrorists, arrested 94 suspects and rescued 68 kidnapped hostages.
In the North West, the defence spokesman said the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji neutralised 153 terrorists, arrested 97 suspects and rescued 186 kidnap hostages as well as recovery of cache of arms.
Under Operation Whirl Punch, he said the troops neutralised 63 terrorists, apprehended 291 suspects and rescued 62 kidnap hostages, with recovery of cache of arms and ammunition.
In the South-South, Buba said the troops of Operation Delta Safe, spiked the nation’s daily crude oil production to over 1.5 million barrels per day in August.
He said the troops apprehended 71 persons involved in crude oil theft and impounded 5,047,150 litres of crude oil, 1,152,500 litres of AGO, 320 litres of DPK and 28,500 litres of PMS.
“Furthermore, troops recovered 194 assorted ammunition and destroyed 125 wooden boats as well as 458 illegal refining sites.
“Nevertheless, troops are urging for more transparency by the IOCs, accurate metering, cooperation of stakeholders in the sector and well cooperation from the local communities.
“Troops are also monitoring the prosecution of culprits perpetrating crude oil theft,’’ he added.
In the South East, Buba said the troops of Operation UDO KA conducted offensive operations against IPOB/ESN terror group and neutralised 34 terrorists, apprehended 82 suspects and rescued 26 kidnap hostages. (NAN)
Akingbaso was first arraigned in September, 2022 before Justice Blessing Ajileye on a two-count charge of rape and coercion.
Delivering her judgment, Justice Ajileye said, “in conclusion, this court has found the defendant guilty on the two count charge of rape and coercion and convicted him accordingly.”
She said this would serve as deterent to others in the class of the convict who have not been caught up with by nemesis.
” On Count one (rape), the defendant is sentenced to life imprisonment and on count two (Coercion), the defendant is sentenced to three years imprisonment, both terms are to run concurrently,” Justice Ajileye declared.
During trial, the Prosecution Counsel, Taiwo Ajibulu told the court that the convict committed the offences sometime in July 2022, in Ado-Ekiti.
He said that the defendant raped the 13-year-old girl (names withheld) and also coerced the victim to engage in sexual acts to the detriment of her physical and psychological well-being.
According to him, the offences contravened Section 31(2) of the Child’s Rights Law, Cap. C7, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012 and Section 4 of the Ekiti State Gender-Based Violence (Prohibition) Law, No.18 of 2019.
In her testimony before the Court, the girl said “Prophet Adeleye was my mother’s man-friend, he comes and sleep in our house often, but on a particular day, my mummy was on night duty, Prophet Adeleye came to sleep in our house.
“He woke me up midnight and said I bedwet, I said no. He brought out a bottle of sheabutter and rubbed it on my virgina, that was all I knew.
“I later discovered I had been raped that night, he threatened me that he will curse me and I will die if I tell anybody.
” On the second day, my mother was not at home, he came to our house again.
“I was in the kitchen, he told me he wanted to complete what he started yesterday. He was trying to rough-handled me, but I managed to run out and shouted for help and our neighbours came to my rescue.
“They called my mother and narrated what happened to her, she slapped the Prophet when she came and later reported the case at the Police Station, she concluded.”
To prove its case, the prosecutor called four witnesses and tendered the defendant’s statement and the girl’s medical report as exhibits.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the counsel to the defendant, Mr Adelanke Akinrata, called no witness. (NAN)
Crime
JUST IN; Six Persons arrested over brutal killing of two Police officers
JUST IN; Six Persons arrested over brutal killing of two Police officers
In a breakthrough development, six suspects have been arrested in connection with the brutal killing of two police officers in Kolere village, located in the Fune Local Government Area of Yobe State.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Operations, Yobe State Police Command, Abdu Abubakar Ozo, confirmed the arrests during a press briefing after a routine State Security Council meeting, which was chaired by the state Deputy Governor, Idi Barde Guban.
DCP Ozo revealed that the suspects are linked to the tragic deaths of two officers, DSP Ali Pindar and DSP Jantuku Philibus, who were killed earlier this year in separate incidents while attempting to arrest suspected gang members in the Kolere community.
The suspects are currently in the custody of the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further interrogation.
In an effort to bring all responsible parties to justice, the state police command has intensified its search for additional suspects involved in the officers’ killings.
Crime
NDLEA operatives arrest Businessman with 120 wraps of cocaine
NDLEA operatives arrest Businessman with 120 wraps of cocaine
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has arrested a 42- Year-old Angolan businessman, Mbala Abuba at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano for attempting to traffic 120 wraps of cocaine, which he ingested to Istanbul,Turkey.
The Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
Babafemi said that Abuba who is from the Zaire province in Angola was arrested on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at the screening point of the Kano airport while trying to board Egypt Air flight MS 880 to Istanbul, Turkey via Cairo.
This, he said was after his body scan result confirmed he ingested illicit drug.
“The suspect was thereafter, placed under excretion observation during which he expelled 120 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.829 kilograms in seven excretions.
“In his statement, the suspect claimed he was into the business of township delivery services in Angola before delving into the illicit drug trade,”he said..
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives stopped a similar attempt by an auto spare parts dealer, Okeke Ebuka, to send two parcels of 1.10kg cocaine concealed in vehicle propellers to Angola.
Babafemi said that the drugs were to be sent through the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, (MMIA), Ikeja Lagos.
He said that the suspect was arrested by the NDLEA operatives on Monday, Feb. 25 following credible intelligence.
“During an interview, the suspect, claimed that he is a businessman selling auto parts in ASPANDA, Trade Fair Complex, Ojo area of Lagos, “he said.
Also, Babafemi said that the NDLEA frustrated the bid by another suspect, Ezechi Iyke to move a large consignment of cocaine weighing 5.40 kilograms to Owerri, Imo state.
The NDLEA spokesman said that Iyke was arrested in his Toyota Sienna bus on Sunday, Feb. 23 by operatives of a special operations unit of NDLEA following weeks of intelligence and surveillance.
With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA), sensitisation activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.
These include: WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Ansarudeen Junior Secondary School, Ojuelegba, Lagos; Loretto Girls Special Science School, Adazinnukwu, Anambra and Tudun Murtala Special Primary School, Nasarawa LGA, kano state, among others.
Babafemi quoted the NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.- Gen. Buba Marwa as commending the officers and men of Tin-can, Delta, Edo, Oyo, Kano, Osun, Borno, Zamfara and Kwara Commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures.(NAN)