In a bid to ensure the nation’s capital is free from terrorists’ hideouts, the troops of the Nigerian military have combed an illegal mining site located at Tukashara Wasa, Apo, in Abuja Municipal Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadami, who made this known at a press briefing at Defence headquarters, Abuja, on Thursday, disclosed that 60 suspected illegal miners were also arrested.
Danmadami explained that the troops of Guards Brigade raided the illegal mining site upon getting credible intelligence, adding that two trailers loaded with illegally mined items were impounded during the operation.
“The troops recovered 4 dane guns, 1 locally fabricated gun, 14 cutlasses, 4 sledge hammers, 25 motorcycles, 1 vehicle and other items. Troops on the same day also arrested 2 trailers loaded with illegal mined items,” he added.
The senior military officer also revealed how its troops repelled an attack jointly carried out by the Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists at Wawa Cantonment in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State last Saturday.
According to him, the attack was repelled in coordinated land and air operations, and no fewer than six terrorists were killed while 18 of them were captured and their equipment destroyed.
He said, “Following the engagement, troops neutralised three terrorists, captured five and recovered one HK 21 gun, nine PKT gun, 598 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 676 rounds of 7.62 special, 3,902 rounds of AK49 ammunition, two RPG tubes, seven RPG bombs, one grenade and three cartons of Improvised Explosive Devices accessories.
“Other items recovered include two vehicles, two motorola radios, two radio chargers, cartons of drip, motorcycles, cell phones and other sundry items.
“Equally, a follow up and exploitation operation was conducted by troops in conjunction with vigilantes at Tungan Gagara and Damala villages where contacts were made with the terrorists. After a fire fight, 13 terrorists were arrested while several others jumped into the river.
“Consequently, similar operation was carried out on November 1 at Babusara village where troops neutralised three terrorists while other fled in disarray,” he said.
On the terror alert by the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, the Director, Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Jimmy Akpor, said the Nigerian military and other security agencies were not relenting on their responsibilities to protect the citizens.
Akpor said the nation’s security agencies were not oblivious of the security situation in the country, adding that the country did not rely on any foreign power to safeguard its citizens.
He urged the media to support the military and security agencies in feeding the public with the right information as they emanated from the security agencies.
