By Victor Akaa.
The Nigerian military has announced the arrest of notorious terrorist Babangida Gora Usman, a wanted kidnap kingpin who has been on the security watch list.
Major General Edward Buba, Director Defence Media Operations announced this on Friday in a statement said the arrest was made by troops in the North Central Operational Theatre, specifically in Sanga LGA of Kaduna State.
Enugu Reporters noted that this development is a major victory for the armed forces, who have been intensifying their counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations across the nation.
Major General Buba explained that the military operations, which targeted not just the terrorists but also their network of collaborators, informants, and support base, have been yielding positive results.
He added that after the Babangida’s arrest, troops also eliminated a notorious terrorist commander and gun runner, Abu Mosaje, in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State.
Furthermore, another notorious gunrunner and his son, Timothy Yusuf and Timothy Obadiah, were apprehended.
The South East region also saw significant action, with the arrest of 7 IPOB/ESN terrorists, including a notorious kidnapper and informants, in Enugu North and Ehime Mbano LGAs of Enugu and Imo States. The week under review saw troops eliminate 79 and arrest 224 persons, while also rescuing 67 kidnapped hostages and arresting 28 perpetrators of oil theft, according to the statement by General Buba.
In the South-South region, troops denied oil thieves the estimated sum of N747,070,710.00, and discovered and destroyed 215 crude oil cooking ovens, 26 dugout pits, and 42 illegal refining sites, among other items.
He said the troops also recovered 842,685 litres of stolen crude oil, 12,340 litres of illegally refined AGO, and 200 litres of DPK.
The armed forces also recovered a significant cache of weapons and ammunition, including 104 assorted weapons and 1,953 assorted ammunition. The breakdown includes 53 AK47 rifles, 25 fabricated rifles, and 11 dane guns, among others.
The arrest of Babangida and the successes recorded by the military are a testament to the armed forces’ commitment to creating conditions in which the safety and security of citizens are guaranteed, Enugu Reporters gathered.
As the military continues to intensify its operations, it is clear that the days of impunity for terrorists and insurgents are numbered.
