In its continued effort at ridding the country of terrorists' activities, the Nigerian Army has moved two of its battalions to the troubled towns of Damaturu and Potiskum of Yobe state.
This is coming on the heels of a report that a 24-hour dusk-to-dawn curfew has been imposed on the two towns to enable the military conduct a house-to-house search with the aim of seizing arms that were alleged to have been stockpiled in the two towns.
Leadership Sunday gathered that a new 233 Battalion under
the command of Lt. Colonel D. C. Bako has been established to carry out the
clean-up exercise in the troubled north-east state of Yobe.
Though leadership Sunday could not ascertain the number of
the military personnel that were moved to the troubled areas, a military battalion
consists of between 300 and 1, 200 soldiers, according to military sources.
All efforts to get the high military command to confirm the
movement and formation of a new battalion was unsuccessful. The army spokesman,
Brigedier General Bolaji Koleosho, was said to have been out of the country,
while Lt. Colonel A. A. Yusuf that could hold brief for him could not be
reached on his mobile telephone numbers.
However, briefing reporters in Damaturu yesterday, spokesman
of the Joint Task Force, JTF, Lt. Eli Lazarus, disclosed that 25 suspected
members of Boko Haram were arrested by the JTF in an early morning raid in some
of the suspected hideout flashpoints of the sect members.
According to Lt. Lazarus, during the operation codenamed
'operation restore sanity 2', which was carried out in Nasarawa, Tashar Tifa,
and One Million Rd, the JTF after a fierce battle with the alleged Boko Haram
members also recovered 3 grenade launchers.
Other items that were recovered during the raid on the
suspected Boko Haram hideouts include 7 laptop computers, 12 assault rifles,
Motorola wacky-talky, camera tripod, military and police uniforms, one tricycle
popularly called Keke NAPEP, GSM handsets and many sim cards.
Also in the course of the operation, 7 women and 12 children
that the sect was allegedly using as shield during its operations were rescued.
Police Arrest 9
suspects In Asaba
The Delta State police command yesterday raided several
houses where stolen items are kept by robbers in Agbor axis of the state.
In the raid that followed the discovery by security
operatives, nine suspected robbers were arrested.
Similarly, property worth millions of naira suspected to
have been stolen from members of the public by the hoodlums were recovered from
the hideouts.
When contacted, police public relations officer (PPRO) DSP
Charles Muka confirmed the story, adding that nine suspects were arrested
during the raid.
He said based on intelligence report that some hoodlums were
in possession of stolen items in houses and hideouts in Agbor, detectives from
Agbor Division stormed the depots and raided the suspects' hideouts, following
which nine of the hoodlums namely Sunday Olije, Onyisi Okwudi, Dennis Osaji,
Chukwueku Agbor, Patrick David, Elvis Obera, Kenneth Eboh, Chuks Nwabieze and
Esther Sunday, a lady, were arrested.
Muka said that search warrants were properly executed in
their houses following which these items were recovered: three Tiger 950
generators, 14 inch Sharp television, two LG DVD players, Samsung DVD player,
eight assorted Nokia handsets, and two other types of handsets, two clippers,
one stabilizer, two digital cameras, one Phillips pressing iron, assorted sound
systems, two hammers, assorted provisions and cash of N7,000.
The PPRO said most of the owners of the stolen items had
been identified and that they had claimed ownership of the items, while the
suspects were helping the police in their investigations after which they would
be charged to court.
Muka used the opportunity to call on members of the public
to give the police useful information and be conscious of movements and
activities in their domains, adding that the arrest of the suspects was made
possible by kind and spirited Deltans who had the interest of peace and
security at heart.
With the introduction of arms into the operations of the
Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the state, the state
commandant of the corps, Mr. Andekin Amos Musa, has declared total war against
vandals and other criminal elements in the state.
The NSCDC boss made the declaration at the passing out
parade of officers of the command trained in the use of arms in Asaba.
According to Musa, "I assure you that we will not rest
on our oars in discharging our duty at ensuring better security to our nation.
I use this opportunity to warn criminals particularly vandals to desist from
their criminal acts as it will be a total war."
He said the newly trained officers had been placed on red
alert at different locations across the state to arrest criminals, particularly
illegal dealers of petroleum products and vandals, adding that the command
would deal ruthlessly with criminals.
While charging the officers to be loyal, dedicated and
exercise self-control, Musa warned them against the misuse of arms as any
breach will attract sanctions.
He also disclosed that more officers will soon be trained in
the use of arms to put the command in a better position to confront the vandals
anytime, adding that they are now better equipped and ready to fight crime in
the state and beyond.
Source: Leadership
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