Defence Headquarters says troops have eliminated a total of 715 terrorists and rescued 465 kidnap victims in ground and air operations across the country in the month of April.

The Director, Defence Media Operation, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, made this known while briefing newsmen on Thursday in Abuja on the operations of the Armed Forces.

He added that the troops also apprehended no fewer than 1,146 suspects during ambushes, raids, fighting patrols and other covert operations during the month.

Buba said several enclaves of notable terrorist leaders And commanders like Nasanda, Babaru, Kamilu Buzaru, Ali Dawud, Bakura Fallujah and Mallam Ari, across North West, were bombarded and destroyed.

According to him, other terrorist leaders and commanders engaged by air strikes include that of Mallam Yadee in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger and Bello Turji’s camp in Kagara forest located between Shinkafi in Zamfara and Isa LGA in Sokoto State.

“All the surviving terrorist Commanders and leaders are walking corpses as we would get them, sooner than later.”

Buba explained that “the synchronised strikes between the ground and air forces during the period under review resulted in over 715 terrorist neutralised, arrested 1,146 persons and rescued 465 kidnapped hostages.

“Furthermore, troops recovered 937 assorted weapons, 23,034 assorted ammunitions and denied the oil theft of an estimated sum over N2 billion.’’

In the North East, the defence spokesman said troops of Operation Hadin Kai conducted operations into Sambisa Forest, Timbuktu Triangle and the Tumbus around the Lake Chad Region within the month.

He said that the operations led to the elimination of 248 terrorist, arrest of 422, and rescue of 163 kidnapped hostages while a total of 714 Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists and their families surrendered to troops.

According to him, the recovered seized items include 208 AK47 rifles, 34 fabricated and 45 dane guns, 18 assorted arms, 3,672 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 2,058 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 422 assorted ammunitions.

In the North Central, Buba said operations conducted by troops of Operation Safe Haven in several hot spots neutralised 32 terrorists and violent extremists and arrested 148 while 35 kidnap hostages were rescued.

He said the troops equally recovered 23 AK47 rifles, 19 fabricated guns, 93 assorted arms, 788 rounds of 7.62mm special, 451 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 256 assorted ammunitions.

The defence spokesman also said that troops of Operation Whirl Stroke had conducted operations to several criminal strongholds in April.

“Overall, troops neutralised 60 terrorists,  arrested 99 suspects and rescued 57 kidnapped hostages and also recovered 40 AK47 rifles, 60 assorted arms, 917 rounds of 7.62mm special, 896 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 331 assorted ammunitions,’’ he said.

In the North West, Buba said the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji maintained the momentum against terrorists hibernating in Bayan Ruwa and other enclaves.

Responding to questions, Buba said there has been linkage between illegal mining and acts of terrorism in the region, as well as foreign involvement in illegal mining.

He said the troops neutralised no fewer than 297 terrorist, apprehended 141 suspects and rescued 143 kidnap hostages within the period, in addition to the recovery of  182 AK47 rifles, 57 fabricated guns, 71 assorted arms, 4,192 rounds of 7.62mm special, 2,341 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 556 assorted ammunitions.

Under Operation Whirl Punch, Buba said the troops neutralised 31 terrorist, arrested 69 suspects, rescued 17 kidnap victims, and recovered 20 AK47 rifles, 28 assorted arms, 538 rounds of 7.62mm special, 397 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 1,200 assorted ammunitions.

In the South-South, he said the troops of Operation Delta Safe neutralised nine violent extremists, arrested 164 persons involved in crude oil theft and recovered 2,563,335 liters of crude oil, 254,620 liters of AGO, 1,050 liters of DPK and 8,000 liters of PMS.

He added that troops also recovered 56 assorted weapons and destroyed 74 wooden boats, 1,501 assorted ammunitions and 76 illegal refining sites during the month.

The defence spokesman added that in the South East, troops of Operation UDO KA neutralised 38 terrorist, arrested 103 suspects and rescued 50 kidnap hostages.

According to him, 8 AK47 rifles, 23 pump action guns, 661 rounds of 7.62mm special, 34 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 589 live cartridges, 225 assorted ammunitions and 43 other equipment were recovered within the month under review.

By Saka Laaro, Ilorin

The Kwara State Police Command has arrested three suspects in connection with a cult clash and culpable homicide in Budo-Oke Eiyenkorin in the Asa local government area of Kwara State.

This was contained in a statement issued by spokesperson of the Command, DSP Ejire-Adeyemi Toun, and made available to journalists in Ilorin Kwara State on Wednesday.

The statement reads in part, “On April 30, 2024, at about 0130 hours, an altercation erupted between two suspected cultists identified as Adams Isah, also known as ‘Number One,’ aged 28, and Rasaq Olorunwa, aged 28. Both are male residents of Budo-Oke in Eiyenkorin. The altercation escalated, resulting in Rasaq Olorunwa stabbing Adams Isah in the chest with a knife.”

Adams Isah was immediately rushed to the general hospital in Ilorin for medical attention. Tragically, he was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital by a medical doctor. The corpse has been deposited at the hospital’s mortuary, awaiting an autopsy.

Following this incident, suspected members of the same cult group of the victim became violent, disturbing the peace of the public in a bid to avenge the death of their leader. The police tactical teams of the command swiftly responded and apprehended three suspects at the scene of the crime. Those arrested are Sulaiman Ismail ‘M,’ Mamud Ibrahim ‘M,’ and Mudashir Saheed ‘M,’ all residents of Budo-Oke, Eiyenkorin. A dane gun was found in their possession at the time of arrest.

The suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Ilorin, for further investigation, while a manhunt has been launched to track down Rasaq Olorunwa who is presently at large, and other culprits involved in the crime who may have fled the scene.

The Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Police Command, CP Victor Olaiya further declared  that membership in any cult group is a serious criminal offense under the law.

The CP added that normalcy has been restored to the area and stringent efforts are underway to ensure justice is served.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on  Friday,  April 26,2024 re-arraigned  a former Assistant Comptroller General of Nigerian Customs Service,  Bridget Okafor before Justice Venchak .S. Gaba of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT,  High Court, Kuje, Abuja.

Okafor alongside her Company, Bridkass Investment Integrated Limited,  is facing trial  on  13-amended count charges bordering on abuse of office, misappropriation and contract scam to the tune of 1,966,378,045.85 (One Billion, Nine Hundred and Sixty-Six Million, Three Hundred and Seventy Eight Thousand, Forty-Five Naira, Eighty-Five Kobo).

Count seven of the charges reads; “That you, BRIDGET CHIENYEZU OKAFOR whilst being employed in the public service as Assistant Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service in charge of Finance and Revenue, sometime in 2014 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did knowingly acquire private interest in contracts awarded by Nigeria Customs Service to NIKOBI INTERNATIONAL, a business enterprise of your son (CHIKWADO OKAFOR) and for which the Nigeria Custom Service paid the gross sum of N329, 021,640.00 (Three Hundred and Twenty Nine Million, Twenty One Thousand, Six Hundred and Forty Naira only) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 12 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000”.

She pleaded not guilty to all the thirteen-count charges when they were read to her.

In view of her plea, prosecution counsel, Attah M. Ocholi requested the court to enter the second defendant’s plea as not guilty too since it’s her company.  He however requested for continuation of the testimony of the sixth prosecution witness, PW6, Agid Mohammed.

Mohammed, a detective with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,  EFCC said the Commission in January 2016 received an intelligence report about valuable items suspected to be proceeds of crime kept at the residence of a former Comptroller General of Customs, late Abdullahi Dikko Inde.

“After receiving the Intel, a surveillance was carried out, and then we obtained a search warrant. We went to the apartment and conducted a search and found incriminating items, and were duly recovered.

“We wrote to the Customs Service and requested a 7 percent cost of collection and 1 percent comprehensive import supervision scheme of 2014-2015, and how it was disbursed. We received and analysed it, and then we wrote to the Customs and invited the first defendant, that is Mrs. Okafor for an interview. She came and volunteered her statement in writing. She was interviewed in a well-ventilated office with windows and other people were present too.”

Testifying further, Mohammed informed the court that the EFCC received another intelligence in January 2016 about other valuable items suspected to be proceeds of crime kept at the residence of a former Comptroller General of Customs, late Abdullahi Dikko Inde. A search was conducted, and incriminating items were recovered.

“Further investigation revealed a fraudulent diversion of over N40 billion from the Nigerian Customs Service in 2014, allegedly involving the first defendant.

“The first defendant was asked if she wanted to volunteer her statement, and she agreed. I then brought out the EFCC statement sheet, and she volunteered a written statement and signed it, and I counter-signed as a witness,” he said.

Asked what they recovered when they secured a search warrant in the first defendant’s home, Mohammed said they recovered various items, including letter-headed papers of companies linked to Okafor’s children in her bedroom.

“The companies, Ponial Interglobal Investment Nigeria Limited, Nikobi International Limited, Tabes Concept International Limited, Bridkass Investment Integrated  Limited and Guap Properties and Realtors Services Limited, were all linked to the first defendant’s children, and they executed contracts with the Nigerian Customs Service and received payments”, he said.

The witness also disclosed that Okafor was the signatory to various bank accounts and had influence over the award of contracts in the Nigerian Customs Service because she was still in active service when the contracts were awarded.

“My Lord the first defendant was still the Assistant Comptroller General of Customs when the contracts were executed, and she reported to the Deputy Comptroller General, Finance, Administration, and Technical Services, whose office is saddled with the responsibility of awarding contracts in the Nigerian Customs Service.”

After listening to the testimony of Mohammed, Justice Gaba adjourned the matter until June 26, 2024, for cross-examination and continuation of the trial.

Okafor was first arraigned on May 19, 2019 before the same judge in FCT High Court,  Kwali before he was transferred to Kuje FCT High Court.