By Sumaila Ogbaje
Nigerian Army troops have foiled a terrorist attack in Niger and rescued eight abductees who escaped from terrorist camps in Borno.
An operational report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday said troops also arrested suspected gunrunners and terrorist couriers and recovered weapons across the country.
It said troops of Operation Savannah Shield repelled a terrorist attack on their location at Dekara in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State on Aug. 23.
According to the report, troops recovered an AK-47 rifle with four rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, six motorcycles and 49 mobile phones.
It added that they also recovered nine batteries and 10 memory cards during exploitation of the area.
The report said drone footage showed two injured terrorists being evacuated on motorcycles into the Kainji Lake National Park.
It added that troops continued to dominate the area to deny the terrorists freedom of action.
“In Borno, troops of 82 Division Task Force Battalion intercepted eight abductees, comprising three women and five children, around Ngoshe in Gwoza Local Government Area.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the victims had been abducted from Ngoshe and Agapaluwa and escaped from terrorist camps due to shortages of basic necessities.
“The rescued victims were handed over to the Ngoshe IDP camp authorities and community leadership for further action,” the report said.
The report further revealed that troops of 151 Task Force Battalion intercepted a male escapee at Banki Junction in Bama Local Government Area of Borno.
According to the report, the victim said he was abducted by JAS terrorists while working on his farm at Kirawa in Gwoza and escaped following clashes between JAS and ISWAP fighters.
It said the troops also intercepted a woman and her child at a checkpoint in Bama after they fled a JAS camp at Kayola Village amid clashes with ISWAP terrorists.
In Zamfara, army said the troops arrested three suspected gunrunners during a snap check along the Kaura Namoda-Shinkafi Road in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area.
It added that troops recovered an AK-103-2 rifle loaded with 30 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition concealed inside a bag of millet.
“The suspects allegedly intended to deliver the weapon to a recipient identified as Tijjani Goguwa at Yar-Galadima in Maru Local Government Area.
“In Kogi, troops of 12 Brigade apprehended a suspected terrorist and a suspected terrorist courier around Okene,” it added.
The report said one of the suspects was allegedly involved in kidnapping activities along the Okene-Auchi road and environs.
It said the troops recovered two mobile phones, a power bank, palm oil, cow meat, clothes and ₦901,080 from the suspects.
The report also disclosed the arrest of a suspected gunrunner along the Bantaje-Wukari Road in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State.
“In the Federal Capital Territory, Army Headquarters Garrison troops, in conjunction with Operation SWEEP, raided Karshi, Jeje, Kurape and Nyanya areas.
“The troops destroyed several illegal shanties and structures during the operation, while the Mai-Anguwa of Nyanya commended the troops and pledged continued cooperation.
“In Plateau, troops recovered rustled cattle in Quan’Pan Local Government Area after tracking the movement of the criminals with a drone.
“However, in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna, troops responding to a kidnap incident involving an adult male and the wife of a Hakimi encountered no contact at the suspected hideout,” it said.
The report said the kidnappers had killed two locals who confronted them while fleeing with the victims, adding that efforts were ongoing to rescue the victims.
In Bayelsa, it said the troops of the Joint Task Force South South Operation Delta Safe intercepted a tugboat and barge carrying 10,400 bags of suspected illegally mined ilmenite sand, popularly known as black sand.
According to the report, five suspects were arrested during the operation at Bassambiri Community in Nembe Local Government Area and handed over to the Nigeria Police for further action. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)