Nigeria's military recovers weapons, animals in battles against militias

Guns seized from Boko Haram

Guns seized from Boko Haram


Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

Nigeria’s military authorities said on Sunday that their assaults on camps of armed militia men in Kaduna and Plateau States have led to the recovery of arms and some stolen livestock.

In a statement issued by Nigeria Defence Headquarters and signed by Major General Chris Olukolade, Director of Defence Information, the military said its operations in Dahia Luka, Makera and some communities in Plateau and Kaduna States, resulted in the arrest of three wounded armed men after an encounter in which some of them died.

The military added that 90 cows and 45 Sheep believed to have been rustled were also recovered in addition to weapons while another 50 cows have also been recovered from rustlers who attacked herdsmen in another location.

Olukolade said “the recovered cows have been handed over to the traditional rulers in the area while the arrested armed men are still being interrogated. The herdsmen who were wounded by the rustlers are also being treated. Altogether, 6 rifles, 25 dane guns and 10 locally fabricated pistols as well as 4 revolvers were recovered in encounters with militias in parts of Plateau and Kaduna State”.

Guns seized from Boko Haram
Guns seized from Boko Haram

Olukolade added that traditional rulers in the areas have been cautioned against shielding or harbouring armed gangs in the precinct of their domain in view of the security implications to their communities and the nation at large.

The Defence spokesperson also revealed that armed gangs have been engaging troops in gun battle as the forests are being combed for remnants of criminal elements who have been wreaking havoc in various communities of the North Central.

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Olukolade also revealed that cordon and search of identified locations has led to recovery of various rifles parts as well as empty ammunition boxes in Shendam, Yelwa and the house of a suspected arms dealer at the border between Plateau and Taraba States.

The arrested suspects are being interrogated by the Special Task Force while one of the militia men arrested in the outskirts of Jos is already helping with information on his links with terrorists operating in other parts of the country, according to the Defence Spokesperson.

Olukolade said that counter terrorists’ campaign in the North East has continued amidst series of encounters as identified make-shift camps of the terrorists are being dislodged in the ongoing air and land raids in forest and mountain locations.

He said while the presence of famished and unarmed members of the terrorists groups wandering around has been noted in some villages, armed terrorists have continued to carry out snap attacks on travellers on highways especially between Maiduguri- Damboa as well as Gwoza-Bama highways while others make occasional attacks on surrounding villages, looting food items.

He added that some of the terrorists have also been attacking soft targets in Borno and Yobe States apparently in retaliation for casualties incurred in their camps as a result of land and air assaults.

Olukolade said that troops repelled a weekend attack on Bunu Gari Market and no life was lost.

According to him, troops have been directed to maintain the aggressive patrols of the local communities to complement the assault on the terrorists,the statement said.

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