A wanted Boko Haram terrorists’ informant, one Mamuda Usman (aka Bado), has been arrested in the Asokoro area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), by the Defence Headquarters’ tactical surveillance troops.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadami, made the revelation at a bi-weekly news conference on the military operations across the country on Thursday in Abuja.
According to Danmadami, the suspect came for errands for a suspected high profiled BHT commander in Kaduna, stating that the commander had been on the tracking list of security agencies.
According to him, the arrested suspect was in the custody of the Army for further interrogations.
In another development, the spokesman said the troops also trailed and rescued kidnapped victims during clearance operations at Changal village in Mangu Local Government Area and Pinau village in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau.
According to him, troops of Operation Whirl Stroke arrested two kidnappers, one Alex Apera (26) and Umaru Halilu (34) while their victims at ChaChangi village in Takun Local Government Area and Rafin Kada village in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba, were rescued.
He said that in the North West zone, the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji, had continued their offensive against terrorist activities with several rescue, clearance operations, ambushes, raids and patrols.
Danmadami claimed that the operations led to the arrest and neutralising of scores of terrorists and other criminal elements in land and air operations in Kaduna, Katsina, and Zamfara States.
According to Danmadami, the troop had on September 3, neutralised three terrorists while others fled with gun wounds during an encounter at Kurar Mota in Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara.
He disçlosed one Dan Nijar Bala, a very notorious terrorist who has been on the wanted list of troops and noted for series of kidnapping incidents and attacks in the general area was neutralized.
Danmadami said that the air component had on August 30, eliminated several terrorists in airstrikes at Alhaji Isiaka village, Kuduru, Igabi Local Government Area, and Udawa along Kaduna-Birnin Gwari road, kaduna State.
According to him, 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 added 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.
Meanwhile, 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 explained that the gifts were part of the operation’s civil military activities aimed at promoting peace and bringing succor to the physically challenged.
He stressed that the donations was also targeted at uplifting their living conditions, support vulnerable members of the society and increase their participation in peace building.