Crime

Troops neutralise 191 terrorists, rescue 91 hostages in nationwide operations

Published

8 months ago

September 29, 2023

The Defence Headquarters says troops of the Nigerian armed forces have eliminated 191 terrorists, apprehended 184 and rescued 91 kidnapped hostages in different operations across the country.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, who made this known while briefing journalists on Thursday in Abuja, said the operations were conducted in the last two weeks.

Buba said a total of 104 Boko Haram and Islamic States of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists and their families also surrendered to troops across theaters of operation during the period.

In the North East, he said troops of Operation Hadin Kai had conducted a series of clearance operations in Borno and Yobe, neutralising 17 terrorists, apprehending 12 and rescuing 17 kidnapped hostages.

Buba added that the troops were able to recover 40 AK-47 rifles, 10 G3 rifle, one single barrel gun, one 36 hand grenade, five AK-47 rifle loaded with 105 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, nine AK-47 magazine, one G3 magazine and 546 rounds of .62mm special ammo.

He said that 192 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 130 rounds of 9mm ammo, 10 empty cases of 7.62mm NATO, four rounds of 7.62mm special (refilled), 18 mobile phones and the sum of N678,750 were also recovered.

In North Central, Buba said troops of Operation Safe Haven also neutralised five terrorists, arrested 24 and rescued nine kidnapped persons, as well as recovered a cache of arms.

He added that six daggers, three motorcycles, three mobile phones, three fragmental jackets, two Nigerian Police uniforms, one military camouflage trousers, one ammo magazine carrier, one military grade camel pouch among other items were recovered from the suspects.

The defence spokesman said the troops of Operation Whirl Stroke conducted a fighting patrol and raid on terrorists hideouts in Nasarawa State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), neutralized six terrorists, arrested 62 and rescued nine kidnapped hostages.

He added that the troops also recovered one SMG, one G3 rifle, one unserviceable FN rifle, one locally made pistol, 1,060 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 19 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammo, four rounds of 9mm ammo, vehicles, one motorcycle and one mobile phone.

Buba further said that troops of Operation Hadarin Daji in the North West also neutralised 18 bandits and terrorists, arrested eight and rescued 38 kidnapped hostages.

He said in addition to that, the troops were able to recover one PKT gun, five AK47 rifles, two AK-47 rifles loaded with 23 rounds of 7.62mm ammo, one fabricated rifle, one locally made pistol, 7 magazines, 215 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 22 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 5 cartridges, 11 motorcycles and three mobile phones.

Buba disclosed that troops of Operation Whirl Punch also eliminated three terrorists, arrested seven and rescued three hostages in Kaduna and Niger States during the period.

He said during the operations, one AK-47 rifle, three rounds of 7.62mm special, two mobile phones and the sum of N5.4 million and other sundry items were recovered from the criminals.

“Our mission against terrorists, insurgents and perpetrators of insecurity in the country is not one that should be seen as the exclusive preserve of just the military alone.

“Experience reveals that the military alone cannot neutralise terrorism and insurgency and this underscores the need for our counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency wars to remain a reflection of a whole of society commitment.

“The perpetrators of insecurity are not ghosts, they have families, and relations and are from villages and communities in the country.

“Through a whole-of-society approach, we will suffocate any hope that these groups have of victory through senseless killings and dastardly acts,” he said.

Related Topics:Terrorists Troops neutralise

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Crime

Mother of five jailed for forging late Abba Kyari’s signature

Published

2 days ago

May 17, 2024

NewsDirect

The Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Gwagwalada, Abuja, has sentenced a mother of five, Ramat Mba, to one year imprisonment for her involvement in an employment scam.

Mba also forged the signature of the late Abba Kyari, the Chief of Staff to the former President, Muhammadu Buhari.

The presiding judge, Honourable Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, had last week deferred the sentencing of the convict till Thursday but directed that she should be remanded in Suleja Correctional Centre.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission had arraigned Mba in June 2022 on a 5-count bordering on cheating, fraud and forgery, contrary to Section 13 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and Sections 320(b), 366 of the Penal Code Cap 89 laws of Northern Nigeria.

n the course of the trial, the commission, through its prosecutor, Hamza Sani, had led Mba in evidence before the court on how the convict committed the offence sometime in 2020 when she collected N4.5 million from several job seekers, promising to secure jobs for them with the ICPC and National Air Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA).

Also, the documentary evidence tendered showed that the convict fraudulently forged the letterhead of the Office of the Chief of Staff to former President Buhari and his signature.

The letter, addressed to the ICPC Chairman, was a request for the recruitment of three individuals by the commission.

However, the late CoS, in a written correspondence that was also tendered in court as an exhibit, distanced himself or his office from authorising the letter.

The spokesperson for the ICPC, Demola Bakare, revealed the development in a statement on Friday.

Bakare revealed, “The trial judge, Justice Muhammad, in his judgment on May 9, 2024, convicted the mother of five children on counts 1, 2, 3 and 5 that border on cheating and forgery, while she was discharged on count 4 which borders on felony.

“Justice Muhammad, during the sentencing on Thursday, pronounced a six-month jail term or N100,000 option of fine on counts 1, 2 and 3 on the convict.

“The presiding judge, who stressed the status of the convict as a first-time offender and a mother, also sentenced her to one-year imprisonment or N150,000 option on fine on count 5 which borders on forgery.”

Crime

15 worshippers die in Kano mosque attack — Police

Published

2 days ago

May 17, 2024

NewsDirect

The Kano State Police Command on Friday confirmed the death of 15 persons in the mosque attack in Gadan village in Gezawa Local Government Area of the state.

A man on Wednesday allegedly sprayed the mosque with petrol, locked its doors, and set it on fire, trapping worshippers.

The state Commissioner of Police, Usaini Gumel, told the News Agency of Nigeria in a telephone interview that so far, 15 out of the 24 victims of the incident died.

Initial reports said one worshipper had died from the attack but the death toll later rose after more victims died while receiving treatment at the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital in Kano.

Gumel said that the incident occurred during a dawn prayer at a mosque in Gadan village, leaving 24 worshippers injured.

He said the injured victims were currently receiving treatment at the Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, Kano.

The suspect, Shafi’u Abubakar, 38 is currently in police custody.

The motive behind the attack was believed to be a family conflict over the sharing of family inheritance.

The commissioner said that the police are continuing with their investigation into the attack.

Crime

Buying pre-registered SIM cards criminal, NCC warns

Published

2 days ago

May 17, 2024

Anita Anyanwu

The Nigerian Communications Commission has warned Nigerians against buying pre-registered SIM cards, citing the illegal nature of the practice, and could attract severe consequences.

In an advisory note sighted on its X platform on Friday, the telecom regulator emphasized that the use of pre-registered SIM cards compromises the accuracy of consumer information.

“Buying pre-registered SIM cards is criminal and may lead to imprisonment, implication in identity theft, financial fraud, kidnapping and armed robbery,” part of the advisory noted.

The NCC explained that using a pre-registered SIM card undermined the reliability of data collected on consumers, making it challenging for authorities to identify and apprehend the actual perpetrators of crimes.

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The warning aims to educate the public on the risks associated with pre-registered SIM cards and encourage compliance with legal guidelines to enhance national security.

The commission urged to follow the proper procedures for registering SIM cards to avoid any legal consequence.

The NCC made the linkage compulsory, directing all telecommunications operators to enforce complete network barring on all phone lines for which subscribers fail to link their SIM cards to their NINs.

There have been two phases of barring SIM cards not linked to NIN by the telcos – the first occurred on February 28 and the second one occurred on March 29.

The regulator, however, has extended the deadline for linking SIM cards to NIN (last phase) to July 31, 2024, from April 15. This extension applies to subscribers with more than four SIMs.