The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said troops of Guards Brigade arrested 64 youths in black attires planning to disrupt Nigeria@62 Anniversary on October 1, 2022, and another 33 illegal miners in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Musa Danmadami, while briefing journalists on the update of Armed Forces of Nigeria’s operations between September 22 to October 6, 2022, said Troops of Guards Brigade on September 25, 2022, raided an identified illicit drug peddlers’ hideout along Koroduma-Asokoro-Guzape in Abuja Municipal Area Council and arrested five suspected drug peddlers, recovered 11 bags of substance suspected to be cannabis sativa from the suspects.
“Equally, on 1 October 2022 Guards Brigade troops raided Karshi hill and surrounding villages in Abuja Municipal Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory following intelligence on plans by hoodlums to disrupt the Independence Day Celebration, consequently, troop arrested 64 youths in black attires armed with 9 locally made guns.
“In another development 33 suspected illegal miners were arrested at an illegal mining site at Gwagwalada Area Council,” he said.
Major Danmadami said all apprehended criminals were handed over to the FCT Command of the Nigeria Police Force for further action.
In a related development, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE neutralized two terrorists while other escaped with gunshot wounds at a suspected criminal hideout at Otukpa in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State.
In a similar vein, troops arrested two suspected bandits at Zaki Ibiam and Zamkara in Ukum local government area of Benue State and recovered one locally fabricated AK47 rifle, one dane gun and two mobile phones.
He said the troops also arrested one suspected bandit in his hideout, while a motorcycle and one round of 7.62mm special was recovered from the suspect.
Equally, troops killed two suspected terrorists at a hideout in Awe local government area of Nasarawa State and recovered one AK47 rifle, three dane guns, one motorcycle, three mobile phones and arrested four terrorists.
Furthermore, troops of Operation Safe Haven arrested a drug dealer with large quantity of substance suspected to be cannabis.
The troops also arrested four suspected armed robbers at Shaka village in Bassa local government area and recovered armored cables suspected to have stolen from a government property in the general area.
He added that troops in conjunction with the operatives of NSCDC arrested a notorious kidnapper and armed robber known as Anas Ayaro, 22 years, who had been on the wanted list of security agencies along Layi in Bauchi State.
He said the suspect was said to be the leader of a notorious gang involved in major kidnapping, cattle rustling and armed robbery incident in Plateau and neighboring States.
Meanwhile between September 25 and October 2, 2022, troops arrested nine suspected kidnappers, rescued eight civilians, neutralized two suspects and recovered one fabricated pistol with 10 rounds of 7.62mm special.
