News Investigators/ Fresh facts have emerged on how a joint operations of the United States of America elite soldiers and Department of State Security Services (DSS) stormed a residential estate in Abuja, Nigeria capital in an effort to abort a terror attack.
The incidence occurred Monday evening, at about 7pm at the Trademore Estate, Lugbe, along Abuja Airport Road.
The Commando-like operation came on the heels of Terror alert issued by the U.S. on possible terror attacks in Nigeria’s federal capital earlier in the week.
Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed denounced the terror alert on Wednesday, describing it as “unverified.”
Mr Mohammed said it was capable of creating fear and panic thereby discouraging investment in Nigeria.
Eyewitness said two persons were arrested and whisked away from the scene. The House is located on Ishikwoato street, same street where a former police inspector general was living.
“They stormed the house after cordoning off the area. It was a sting operation that leaves no room for escape for the terror suspect,” a security source reveal.
Detail of items recovered from the scene could not be immediately ascertained, sources said two pistols and a box of explosives were recovered.
According to the eyewitness, “we were already inside the house not knowing that there was an incident of that magnitude going on right close to our house. We only got to know when a neighbour called to say that security had condone off access roads leading to our street,” the source told News Investigators.
“I used to see the guy once in awhile, he hardly goes out and his wife wears hijab, he is an Ibira guy from Kogi but looks more like a core northern, this is scary for us, it means no where is safe,” the source quipped.“It’s no longer News that there was a High Powered Sting Operation in Phase 3 this afternoon, culminating in a complete shutdown of our estate. A combination of American Army and our DSS team were responsible.
Earlier in August, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) released a report of its General Area Incident Mapping carried out by the Risk and Strategic Management Corp, which it said was accurate till 29 July 2022.
The risk assessment report detailed both the lower risk and high levels of security risk locations within the FCT.
It identified risk locations in Maitama, Garki, Gwagwalada, Kwali, Kuje, Kubwa, Bwari and Lugbe among other areas of the Abuja Municipal Council Area.
According to the report, “the General Area Incident Map illustrates ” High-Risks Area” security ‘trends’ rather than specific historic incidents. The security conditions in the represented areas are fluid, and as such new threats may emerge, or current threats may subside,” it said.
Adding: “The mapping is provided to assist knowledge led decision-making for risk management.”
In the August report, Trademore Estate was specifically identified as high risk area alongside Gold City Estate in Lugbe Area.
Similar specific reference was made to Maitama and Asokoro, the junction of Nnamdi Azikiwe and Olusegun Obasanjo Way in the Central Business District as high risk areas. “A high risk of robberies exists in the Central Park axis,” the report further stated.
In Asokoro, Kuruduma forest was identified as high risk area for robbery and kidnapping.
Specific reference was also made to Abuja-Lokoja road, Water Reservoir Tank Area in Abaji as well as Abaji-Toto road which it marked as high risk areas for kidnapping and armed robbery attacks.
Other specific high risk locations mentioned in the report include Garki, Lokogoma, Bwari, Gudu and Gwagwalada Ballers Court Estate, Kuchiyako in Kuje, Pegi road and Kwali.
Chairman, Trademore Mega City, Engr. Adewale Adenaike also confirmed the incident in a message to residents of Trademore Phase 3 on their official information platform.
He however declined to comment further on the matter when contacted, insisting that it is a sensitive security matter.
“But one thing is sure, Trademore will continue to be too hot for anyone with criminal intention. Our security is solid, anyone thinking of coming here for anything sinister should better think twice because the long arm of the law is certain to catch up with you as always,” he said.
