Nigerian troops smash Nigerien citizens for engaging in massive arms supply to bandits

*Arrests several bandits

By Augustine Osayande

Troops of Operation SAHEL SANITY deployed in Forward Operation Base Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State have intercepted three Nigerien citizens, Alhaji Adamu Alhassan, Salisu Adamu and Abdullahi Sani who are notorious illegal arms smuggling syndicate.

This was disclosed by the Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Benard Onyeuko, during a press briefing on Monday.

He said the trio specialized in massive arms supply to bandits in the North West from across the international boarders.

Onyeuko further stated that the trio were intercepted by the eagle-eyed troops at Dantudu in Mailailai District of Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State with 6 AK 47 Rifles, 3 AK 47 Rifle magazines and 2,415 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition deceptively concealed in various parts of their vehicle.

He said preliminary investigation revealed that the dangerous consignment was meant for some bandits in Isah Local Government Areas of Sokoto State which could have led to loss of thousands of innocent lives.

Onyeuko explained that one of the arrested arms suppliers, Alhaji Adamu Alhassan, who is diabetic and hypertensive experienced seizure and gave up the ghost while he was being rushed to the hospital.

He said investigation of the other 2 accomplices continued in order to track and arrest all those in the chain of the heinous activity in collaboration with other intelligence and security agencies from our neighboring countries.

Onyeuko also stated that the troops in combined special clearance operation destroyed 12 bandits’ camps at Yobe Baranda in Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State.

He said three bandits were neutralized in the process while others escaped with various degrees of gunshot wounds.

Onyeuko also revealed that troops of Forward Operation Base Wanke arrested a suspected bandit named Shehu Abdullahi while spying on traders’ activities in the market with the intent of organizing for their kidnap.

He also stated that the troops on patrol arrested another bandit informant in Magami named Umar Salisu.

Onyeuko said following the receipt of credible intelligence that some bandits were sighted at Danjibga Market, troops mobilized to the area and successfully arrested five suspected bandits namely Abubakar Ahmadu, Mohammed Bashir Tukur, Adamu Tahiyawo, Ibrahim Alhaji Haruna and Mohammed Yusuf.

He said the troops deployed in Forward Operation Base Kwantaragi arrested a bbandi’s informant named Tukur Halilu at Mutukuda village in Maru LGA of Zamfara State.

Items recovered from him include: 2 empty AK 47 Rifle magazines, 1 magazine carrier and a broken solar panel.

He said the troops at Forward Operation Base Anka arrested 2 bandits’ informants named Mohammed Bashir and Najibu Dalha in Wuya village of Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

Onyeuko said all arrested suspects were currently in custody undergoing preliminary investigations before being forwarded to appropriate prosecuting authorities.