Crime
MNJTF neutralises 100 terrorists in Lake Chad
MNJTF neutralises 100 terrorists in Lake Chad
Troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), have eliminated no fewer than 100 Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists, including 10 key commanders in the Lake Chad region.
The Chief of Military Public Information for MNJTF, Col. Muhammad Dole, in a statement on Sunday, said the forces successfully hit the enclaves in a well-coordinated land and air offensives.
Dole said the offensives were conducted under “Operation Lake Sanity”, joint operations involving the MNJTF troops from Nigeria, Niger and Cameroon and troops from Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK- Nigeria).
He said the operation also included the combined Air Task Forces of MNJTF and OPHK other security agencies and the Civilian Joint Taskforce (CJTF).
READ ALSO: NDLEA Intercepts Cocaine Consignments At Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt Airports, Arrests 7 Traffickers
Dole said the troops raided the insurgents’ dens in Zanari, Arina Woje, which served as major fabrication workshops, and several other locations around the Islands from different corridors in the last week.
According to him, the terrorists were neutralised following intelligence-driven lethal airstrikes in the Lake Chad islands by the combined air task forces.
“Some of the commanders include Abubakar Dan Buduma, Abubakar Shuwa, Abu Ali and Abu Jubrilla among others.
“Relatedly, sophisticated weapons of different calibres including a 105 mm artillery piece, several canoes/boats, motorcycles, bicycles, several Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) making factories and bunkers were destroyed.
“In the course of the operation, a significant number of innocent citizens, mostly women and children held captive by the criminals, were rescued.
“Large quantities of foodstuff (grains), fuel dumps, illicit drugs, terrorists’ uniforms and other households materials were recovered and destroyed immediately,” he said.
MNJTF spokesman said that logistics and foodstuffs, including several bags of maize and beans, motorcycles, and some immobilised military and civil vehicles, were discovered at Fedondiya settlement in a clearance operation.
He said that equipment, like grinding machines, vehicle fabrication tools and military uniforms, were also destroyed and set ablaze in the location.
According to him, it was obviously a big Boko Haram /ISWAP camp having another large IED making and vehicle-borne IED making factory that was cleverly camouflaged to prevent detection from the air.
Dole said the MNJTF troops on clearance patrols in Kimeguna near Lake Chad in the Niger Republic accosted terrorist logisticians ferrying 457 bags of fish in several carts.
He said the bags of fish were immediately destroyed in line with the MNJTF standing operating procedure, adding that the suspects were currently being profiled.
According to him, the obviously frustrated BHT/ISWAP criminals have resorted to the indiscriminate laying of IEDs and the use of vehicle-borne explosive devices attacks.
He said the troops had encountered four of such attacks, saying that 18 soldiers including an officer had been wounded in these attacks.
Dole added that the wounded had been evacuated to various military medical facilities for treatment, while three soldiers and one member of the CJTF paid the supreme sacrifice.
According to Dole, the Force Commander (FC) MNJTF, Maj.-Gen. Abdul-Khalifah Ibrahim, commended his deputy, sector commanders, officers and men of MNJTF and other operations, including the CJTF for their courage and commitment.
Dole said Ibrahim paid tribute to the troops who paid the supreme sacrifice and prayed for the quick recovery of the wounded heroes.
Ibrahim urged the troops to be resolute and bold to finally eradicate the criminals from the Lake Chad areas and promised continuous logistics support to the troops.
The force commander advised the terrorists to lay down their arms like thousands of their colleagues who had done so instead of pursuing a futile and failed cause.
He also appealed to communities in the areas of operation and beyond to always support security forces by passing credible information on the terrorists quickly to bring an end to the scourge of terrorism in the area.
Kidnappers abduct young man in Abuja estate, shoot fiancée
By: Zagazola Makama
Gunmen have abducted a young man during an attack on a private residence at Leisure Court Phase 1 Estate, located under Aco Division in Abuja.
Zagazola Makama gathered that the incident occurred in the early hours of Monday at about 12:01 a.m., when the attackers gained access into the residence of Mr. Olusoji Litan on Mike Ekere Street.
Sources said the gunmen kidnapped Mr. Litan’s son, Oladeji Emmanuel, who had just arrived Abuja to visit his parents on Friday, Nov. 9.
During the attack, Emmanuel’s fiancée, identified as Amanda, sustained gunshot injuries on both thighs.
Following a distress call received at about 12:25 a.m. from the Chief Security Officer of the estate, police patrol teams, working with hunters and vigilantes, were deployed to the scene.
Three expended 7.62mm ammunition shells were recovered from the compound.
Amanda was immediately evacuated to Lawrence Margaret Teaching Hospital, River Park Estate, where she is receiving treatment and is reported to be in stable condition.
Sources said efforts were ongoing to track down the fleeing kidnappers and rescue the victim.
The case is being handled by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).
Kidnappers abduct young man in Abuja estate, shoot fiancée
Gunmen abduct FRSC officer, neighbour in Benue
By: Zagazola Makama
Gunmen have abducted a Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) personnel and another resident in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.
Zagazola learnt that the attack occurred at about 9:00 p.m. on Nov. 9 at Asa 1, Otobi Akpa Road, Otukpo.
According to sources , armed men numbering about five stormed the residence, broke down the door, and forcefully took away the FRSC officer, identified as Oketa Ejembi, along with a neighbour whose identity was yet to be established at the time of filing the report.
The son of the victim, Daniel Oketa, reported the incident to the police at about 9:43 p.m.
Following the report, the Divisional Police Officer mobilised a patrol team alongside tactical units to the scene.
The command said efforts were ongoing to track the suspects and rescue the victims unhurt.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has commenced investigation
Gunmen abduct FRSC officer, neighbour in Benue
Over 50 fighters reportedly killed as Boko Haram factions clash with ISWAP in Abadam
By: Zagazola Makama
A deadly clash between the factions of Boko Haram the Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunna lid-Da‘wa wa’l-Jihād (JAS) and the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) has resulted in the reported death of more than 50 fighters at Toumbun Gini, an island community in Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State.
Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the clash occurred on Sunday afternoon around 3 pm, following an attempted offensive by ISWAP fighters.
According to the source, ISWAP mobilised fighters using 10 high-powered watercraft and launched an attack aimed at reclaiming the island, believed to have recently fallen under the control of the rival JAS faction.
However, intelligence reportedly reached JAS leadership ahead of the assault, enabling them to set up a counter-ambush.
At exactly 1500 hours, ISWAP boats landed and what was planned as a surprise offensive quickly turned into a deadly trap. The first shots were decisive. JAS fighters overpowered them within minutes. ISWAP was routed,” the source said.
The source said over 50 ISWAP fighters were killed during the ambush, with seven of their boats seized. The remaining three vessels escaped with casualties. Video clips appearing to show the aftermath of the clash surfaced online on Sunday.
Zagazola described the clash as Day 5 of intensified rivalry between the two insurgent factions, which have been fighting over territorial dominance and control of resources in the Lake Chad islands.
The continued push by JAS against ISWAP could force surviving ISWAP fighters deeper into mainland communities bordering Kukawa, Monguno and Marte LGAs, increasing security risks for civilians and security personnel.
The rivalry has however, weakened both factions, reducing their ability to launch coordinated large-scale attacks. However, this fragmentation also poses a different challenge: smaller, unpredictable cells that are harder to track.
What is happening on Lake Chad today is a conflict within a conflict and Nigerian troops remain in the middle of the battlefield. The fighting could be leveraged strategically by intensifying pressure on both groups simultaneously.
“This is the best time for the Nigerian military to tighten the corridor and deny both factions space to regroup,”said Zagazola.
Over 50 fighters reportedly killed as Boko Haram factions clash with ISWAP in Abadam
Lost Talents on Our Roads: A Call to Remember, Support, and Act
Army trolls in Adamawa arrest major drug supplier to terrorists
Stop rascally behavior and reckless driving on maiduguri roads…Gubio warns keke napep riders
Roger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
POLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
News2 years agoRoger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
Opinions4 years ago
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
Opinions4 years ago
POLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
News2 years agoEYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
ACADEMICS2 years agoA History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Columns2 years agoArmy University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
News7 months agoFAILED COUP IN BURKINA FASO: HOW TRAORÉ NARROWLY ESCAPED ASSASSINATION PLOT AMID FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CLAIMS
-
Opinions2 years agoTinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
