Army parades four suspected herdsmen over possession of arms

Troops of the 101 Special Forces Battalion on Exercise Ayem Akpatuma say they have apprehended four suspected armed herdsmen with over 285 cattle in a farmland in Suntai Daji village of Donga Local Council of Taraba State.

The suspects were named as Dahiru Dumba, Almajiri Nyako, Haryana Manga and Adamu Hassan.

Parading the suspects, the Commanding Officer, Lt.- Col. Mutiu Dotun Olaseni, said they were arrested following a tip-off.

According to him, “troops acted on a tip-off and moved swiftly into the farmland and arrested four herders together with their cows.”

Noting that the farmland belonged to “ a woman of Tiv origin in this village (Suntai Daji), the military said it would continue to work “tirelessly round the clock to thwart acts that would ignite upheavals in the state and the country at large.”

However, spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Brig-Gen. Texas Chukwu, said 10 bandits were killed on Sunday during a clearance operation in Numan, Adamawa State.

One of the suspects, Adamu Umar, was arrested in an-hour exercise.

In a statement yesterday in Abuja, Chukwu said arms, ammunition and 18 motorcycles were also recovered from the bandits.

He stated that preliminary investigation was being conducted while the suspect had been handed over to the police.

Chukwu advised the public to report suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies for prompt action.

Also, troops of Operation Lafiya Dole have rescued an old man in a gun battle with terrorists in Gobara village, Gwoza council area of Borno State.

The rescue was led by the Platoon Commander of 192 Battalion, Lt. Asajwun Ahmadu.

Spokesman of Operation Lafiya Dole, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement yesterday in Maiduguri, said: “Ahmadu rescued and personally carried on his shoulders the feeble aged man who had been caught up in the exchange of fire between troops and insurgents.”

He said the aged man is currently receiving medical attention at the 192 Battalion Medical Reception Centre.

According to him, the troops also uncovered and detonated improvised explosive devices (IEDs) buried by insurgents along Damboa axis to attack Fadagwe and Fadagwe Christians.

On how the terrorists were killed, Nwachukwu said: “In the offensive, the gallant troops killed two insurgents and destroyed their camp, logistics and IEDs’ factory.

“The troops also recovered eight dane guns, a G3 magazine, an IED-making device, an unexploded ordinance, three tool boxes, three machetes, electric cables and a Boko Haram flag in Borno State.”