Troops arrest Boko Haram informant in Abuja

The Defence Headquarters says its tactical surveillance troops have apprehended a wanted Boko Haram terrorists (BHT) informant, Mamuda Usman (aka Bado), in the Asokoro area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadami, made this known at a bi-weekly news conference on military operations across the country on Thursday in Abuja.

Danmadami said it was revealed that the suspect ran errands for a suspected high-profile BHT commander in Kaduna.

He said that the commander had been on the tracking list of security agencies, adding that the arrested suspect was in custody for further action.

He said the Headquarters, Operation Safe Haven, in collaboration with Beautiful Gate Handicaps People Centre Jos, distributed 220 tricycles and bags of rice to persons living with disability within Plateau and Bauchi States.

Danmadami said the gesture was part of the operation’s civil-military activities aimed at promoting peace and bringing succor to the physically challenged.

He added that the gesture was also targeted at upgrading their living conditions, supporting vulnerable members of the society and increasing their participation in peacebuilding.

The spokesman said the troops also trailed and rescued kidnapped victims from kidnappers during clearance operations at Changal village in Mangu Local Government Area and Pinau village in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau.

He said that troops of Operation Whirl Stroke apprehended two kidnappers, Alex Apera (26) and Umaru Halilu (34), and rescued victims at ChaChangi village in Takun Local Government Area and Rafin Kada village in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba.

In the North West zone, Danmadami said the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji continued to intensify offensive action against terrorist activities with several rescue, clearance operations, ambushes, raids, and patrols.

He said the operations led to the arrest and neutralising scores of terrorists and other criminal elements in land and air operations in Kaduna, Katsina, and Zamfara states.

He said the troops had, on Sept. 3, neutralised three terrorists while others fled with bullet wounds during an encounter at Kurar Mota in Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara.

According to him, one of the neutralised terrorists was identified as Dan Nijar Bala, a notorious terrorist who has been on the wanted list of troops and noted for series of kidnapping incidents and attacks in the general area.

Danmadami said that the air component had, on Aug. 30, eliminated several terrorists in airstrikes at Alhaji Isiaka village, Kuduru in Igabi Local Government Area, and Udawa along Kaduna-Birnin Gwari road in Kaduna State.

He said the troops also apprehended a suspected BHT arms dealer named Hamza Dogo in Zamfara and recovered two AK47 rifles, eight magazines, 200 rounds of 7.62mm, and one Pontiac vehicle from the suspect.

“Consequently, within the week under review, troops neutralised 17 terrorists, arrested 38 others and rescued 61 kidnapped civilians,“he said.

He said that troops recovered 10 AK47 rifles, three locally made guns, four fabricated revolver rifles, 253 rounds of 7.62mm special, and 68 motorcycles.

Others are 15 mobile phones, three woodland camouflages, one police uniform, two pairs of combat boots, 29 rustled cattle, and two vehicles.

“All recovered items, apprehended suspects and rescued civilians have been handed over to the relevant authority for further action,” he added.