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Tag: Terrorists

  • Military must smoke out terrorists from Sambisa forest now — Ali Ndume

    Military must smoke out terrorists from Sambisa forest now — Ali Ndume

    Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has called on the military under the Theatre Command, North East ‘Operation Hadin Kai’, and other security agencies to clear the North East of terrorist threats, especially in the Sambisa Forest and Mandara Mountains.

    This, he emphasized, is crucial for enabling peasant farmers to return to their farmlands without fear.

    The lawmaker specifically cited areas like the Sambisa forests, Mandara mountains, and border communities within Gwoza and the Republic of Cameroon, where insurgents have made farming a dangerous venture.

    Senator Ndume noted that terrorists have been causing significant economic setbacks for resilient farmers recently resettled in liberated communities such as Ngoshe, Kirawa, Warabe, Wala, Pulka, and Gwoza town.

    He said, “Sincerely, the renewed pockets of attacks recently perpetrated by insurgents have posed serious economic setbacks to our resilient farmers who were newly resettled in liberated communities of Ngoshe, Kirawa, Warabe, Wala, Pulka and even Gwoza town, the Council headquarters.

    This is because the terrorists resorted to looting of their unmatured crops without confrontation.

    want to use this medium to appeal to the military and other security agencies to intensify more efforts aimed at clearing remnants of terrorists still hibernating in Sambisa Forests and parts of Mandara Mountains bordering Cameroon Republic and Nigeria.”

    Ndume also commended Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, for his extraordinary efforts in rebuilding around 10 Gwoza communities that were previously destroyed.

    He praised the military for restoring civil authority and noted the deployment of a military doctor providing free daily medical services to over 10,000 residents of Ngoshe and its surrounding communities who have returned to their ancestral homes.

    While acknowledging the need for more development, Ndume expressed gratitude to Governor Zulum, saying, “Like Oliver Twist, we may ask for more, but to be honest, Zulum has exceeded our expectations.”

  • INSECURITY: Terrorists storm Zamfara community, abduct 10 residents including Patient on IV drip

    INSECURITY: Terrorists storm Zamfara community, abduct 10 residents including Patient on IV drip

    A terrorist attack occurred in Matusgi village, Talata Mafara Local Government Area, Zamfara State, resulting in the kidnapping of no fewer than 10 residents.

    According to sources, the terrorists, heavily armed with sophisticated weapons, launched a surprise attack on the community around 2am on Friday, firing indiscriminately.

    Among those taken were a patient receiving medical treatment, who was abducted while still connected to an IV drip. The incident has left the community in a state of shock and fear.

    Although sources in the community said about 30 persons were kidnapped, the police disputed it, saying 10 persons were taken by the terrorists.

    “They (terrorists) did not kill anyone during the attack. They only shot to scare us. They took about 30, including a woman and one sick man. We are yet to know their whereabouts. Everybody is scared,” a community source told SaharaReporters.

    The motivations behind the kidnapping of residents in Matusgi village, Zamfara State, remain unknown, but authorities suspect that ransom demands may be a possible reason.

    The State Police Command Spokesman, Yezid Abubakar, confirmed the incident to Media during a phone conversation on Friday morning.

    However, the police reported a lower number of kidnapped victims, stating that 10 people were taken, contrary to the 30 reported by residents.

    The discrepancy in the number of those kidnapped has raised questions, as the investigation into the incident continues.

    He said, “The attack is true. The bandits invaded the village on Friday morning, around 2:30am. They kidnapped 10 people and the police are already making tremendous efforts to rescue all of them unharmed.”

    In May, a terrorist operation in Zamfara State’s Anka Local Government Area reportedly claimed the lives of at least 49 people.

    The five-day attack, which occurred from Tuesday to Saturday, affected five villages and resulted in significant loss of life.

    According to residents, the breakdown of fatalities is as follows: 18 in Farar-Kasa, 22 in Dangulbi, 2 in Duhuwa, 4 in Tsatsomawa, and 3 in Yar Sabaya villages.

    A resident of Anka town, who wished to remain anonymous, revealed that the terrorists had been terrorising communities in the local government since the beginning of the week.

  • INSECURITY! Terrorists kidnap mother of popular Hausa musician, Rarara

    INSECURITY! Terrorists kidnap mother of popular Hausa musician, Rarara

    Hajiya Halima Adamu, the mother of the renowned Hausa singer Dauda Adamu, popularly known as Rarara, has been abducted from her residence in Kahutu village, Danja local government area of Katsina State.

     

    The abduction occurred during the early hours of Friday when bandits reportedly infiltrated Kahutu village around 1 am.

    According to sources from the village, the assailants approached on foot and conducted the operation silently, without firing a single shot.

    They swiftly took the elderly woman away.

    “The bandits came quietly and quickly. They did not use any firearms during the brief operation. The woman complied without resistance when they instructed her to come with them,” stated the source.

    In a targeted and alarming incident, the group of armed bandits stormed the residence and specifically kidnapped the woman while leaving the other occupants unharmed.

    Witnesses, fearing for their safety, chose not to intervene due to the bandits’ weapons.

    The local authorities have reportedly launched a search and rescue operation to ensure Hajiya Adamu’s safe return, leaving the community on high alert and concerned following this disturbing event.

    However, efforts to get Aliyu Sadeeq, Katsina State Police Public Relations Officer for an update on the issue were futile as he did not answer his calls.

    As of the time of filing this report, he had not replied to a text message sent to his phone.

    In April 2016, Rarara was reportedly kidnapped but released after he paid a ransom of N2.8 million.

  • At least 60 killed in Congo terrorist attacks

    At least 60 killed in Congo terrorist attacks

    About 60 people have been killed in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo during several attacks by an affiliate of the Islamic State terrorist group, authorities said on Saturday.

    The attacks took place in Béni, a territory in the province of North Kivu.

    “This week alone, they killed 29 civilians on Tuesday in Mamove and then yesterday, Friday, executed 28 other civilians near Masau,” said Kambale Gerve, a civil society leader in Beni said.

    A Red Cross source in Kinshasa said that “around 60 bodies have been taken in, while others are lying on the ground in areas that are still unsafe.”

    From its propaganda channels, the Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) claimed the death of more than 60 “Christians.”

    The Islamists released shocking videos and photos of bound bodies of victims floating on the Loulo River in Béni territory.

    Gerve said the attacks were carried out by Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels.

    The ADF, a Ugandan rebel group, pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in 2019.

  • Many feared killed as terrorists invade Niger State community

    Many feared killed as terrorists invade Niger State community

    Heavily armed members of the Boko Haram terror group on Friday raided Kuchi and surrounding villages in the Munya local government area of Niger state.

    During the raid, it was learnt that not less than 8 of the villagers were killed while nothing less than 120 of the villagers were kidnapped and taken to unknown destinations.

    The terrorists characteristically rode on motorcycles with three on each of the vehicle and all of them armed with AK-47 rifles.

    As they stormed the communities, they spread themselves and shot sporadically into the air, an eyewitness revealed, adding that as at Saturday morning, the gunmen are still operating in Kuchi town.

    During the stampede, 8 of the villagers were said to have been hit, resulting in their death while some others were seriously injured.

    According to the eyewitness, the terrorists overpowered the local hunters and vigilantes with their superior weapons making some of them to go into hiding.

    However one of the local vigilantes said on Saturday morning that “we killed some of them (Boko Haram) but they went away with their corpses.”

    As a result of the raid on Kuchi and other villages, the villagers have started fleeing out of the areas for their safety, it was gathered.

    When contacted, the Commissioner for Homeland Security, Major General Abdullahi Garba rtd, confirmed the on Saturday morning.

    Garba said: “We have this issue on Friday evening we are on top of the situation”, adding that security operatives are already on the trail of the terrorists”.

    Garba who did not confirm the number of casualty because “there is communication problem between hee and there”, said that “everything will soon be brought under control”.

    According to the Commissioner, “the intention of the terrorists is to takeaway the people from their ancestral homes so that they will not farm but we will not allow this to happen.”

    General Garba appealed to the people to remain calm as “government is doing everything to restore law and order in the affected areas.”

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Wasiu Abiodun, did not respond to calls made to his cell phone.

  • Terrorists suffer heavy casualty in 2 ambushes on Nigerian troops

    Terrorists suffer heavy casualty in 2 ambushes on Nigerian troops

    Groups of terrorists in the North West have suffered heavy casualties when the laid ambushes for troops of Operation ”Hadarin Daji” in Zamfara.

    The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Buba said the troops had on May 12, encountered two seperate ambushes at  Kuran Mota Village as well as  along Road Alikere – Yarmalimai Village in Zamfara.

    He said the troops fought fiercely to extricate themselves from the situation, leading to loss of four soldiers while three were wounded in action in the first ambush.

    According to him, five soldiers sustained minor injuries of gunshot wounds in the second ambush incident and the soldiers have been stabilised as they were evacuated to FOB Faskari for medication care.

    “During the ambush, troops received support from the air component Operation Hadarin Daji as well as reinforcement from FOB Yarmalimai.

    “The joint effort of both forces dealt severe blow to the coalition of terrorist that gathered in numerical strength to execute both ambushes.

    “Accordingly, several of the terrorist were neutralised as they suffered heavy casualties.

    “Troops have unlock the change in tactics of these terrorist and made necessary adjustments to maintain tactical superiority in the battlefield,” he said.

  • NAF kills several terrorists in Borno, Niger in airstrikes

    NAF kills several terrorists in Borno, Niger in airstrikes

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says the Air Components of Operations Hadin Kai and Whirl Punch in the North East and North Central  killed several terrorists in airstrikes in Borno and Niger.

    This is contained in a statement issued by the Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, AVM Edward Gabkwet, on Sunday in Abuja.

    Gabkwet said the air components had continued to obliterate terrorists and destroy their structures, equipment and mobility, thereby limiting their ability to attack ground troops and innocent Nigerians at will.

    In the North East he said the air interdiction was on May 3 authourised and conducted over Chinene, a location tucked inside the Mandara mountain.

    Terrorists had been observed to be emanating from various locations and assembling ostensibly for a meeting.

    According to him, seven gun trucks were also observed parked under trees within the same location.

    Gabkwet said the aircraft bombarded the assembly area and tree coverings and destroyed their weapons and mobility.

    He said that Battle Damage Assessment revealed that the strikes were successful as several terrorists were neutralised and logistics destroyed.

    According to him, similar airstrikes were conducted same day by the air component of Operation Whirl Punch in a pre-emptive air strikes over terrorists hibernating at Allawa village, near Shiroro town in Niger.

    The NAF spokesman said the mission was conducted following credible intelligence which revealed the migration of terrorists into the village after the mass exit of locals for fear of their safety.

    He said the terrorists had, on May 1, stormed the deserted Allawa community in Shiroro Local Government Area and torched the Central Primary School.

    “In the evening of the same day, another group of terrorists also arrived at the location, wielding AK-47/49 rifles after invading Galapai village in Galadima Kogo District of Shiroro.

    “Accordingly, to prevent further occupation as well as pursue the terrorists from the location, the air component scrambled a formation of its platforms to attack the location.

    “On arrival at the location, several terrorists were sighted and engaged effectively.

    “Furthermore, following credible intelligence as well as detailed aerial observation, which confirmed the presence of their cache of arms hidden inside Allawa Forest, the air component further carried out air strikes at the location,” he said.

    Gabkwet also said that the NAF carried out air strikes North of Arugbana and Temakiri in the Niger Delta, where illegal refining sites were observed and destroyed.

    According to him, through this action, the capabilities of oil thieves to continually sabotage and destroy oil pipelines were minimised.

  • NAF strikes terrorists in Niger, economic saboteurs in N/Delta

    NAF strikes terrorists in Niger, economic saboteurs in N/Delta

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says the Air Components of Operations Whirl Punch and Delta Safe on Saturday, knocked out terrorists’ hideouts in Niger and illegal oil refining sites in the Niger Delta.

    The Director Public Relations and Information, NAF, AVM Edward Gabkwet, made this known in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

    Gabkwet said the air strikes hit the enclaves of notorious terrorist kingpin, Mallam Umar and several other commanders located in Alawa Forest in Shiroro area of the state.

    He said that there was extensive intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance in the targeted area, which revealed clusters of huts amidst dense vegetation, with significant presence of armed terrorists.

    According to him, the targeted terrorists were responsible for the recent attacks on ground troops at Bassa and detonation of multiple Improvised Explosive Devices along Pandogari-Alawa road in Shiroro.

    “Accordingly, the Air component promptly deployed its air assets to decisively eliminate the terrorists, resulting in effective and maximum damage to the targets.

    “A post-strike Battle Damage Assessment later confirmed the neutralisation of several of the terrorists and the destruction of their hideouts, with positive consequences on their ability to attack surface forces as well as innocent civilians within the area,” he said.

    Gabkwet said that similar air strikes were executed against economic saboteurs siphoning crude oil from mutilated pipelines, thereby destroying the environment and ecosystem.

    He said the surveillance over Ke, Egbema, Akaso Krakama, Krikama and Military Council Valley revealed retinue of illegal refining sites which were effectively destroyed.

    According to him, a Cotonou boat fully loaded with crude oil was also observed at Akaso Krakama about to depart southwards and was destroyed.

    “At Krikama, several cooking sites were observed and destroyed as well.

    “In all, 18 illegal refining sites and three cotonou boats were destroyed.”

    Gabkwet said the strikes have substantially weakened the potency of terrorist elements in the Northwest and oil thieves in the Niger Delta regions.

    He assured that NAF would continue to collaborate with other security agencies through extensive situational awareness patrols and targeted interdiction of criminals’ safe havens.

  • Military air strikes kill dozens of terrorists in Katsina, Borno

    Military air strikes kill dozens of terrorists in Katsina, Borno

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says the Air Component of Operations Hadarin Daji and Hadin Kai have in different air interdictions, killed dozens of terrorists in Katsina and Borno  during the weekend.

    The Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, AVM Edward Gabkwet, made this known in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

    Gabkwet said the streak of successful air strikes denied terrorists freedom of movement aimed at targeting soft targets, especially innocent civilians.

    He said that one of such strikes were carried out on April 5,  at a terrorist enclave located in the North West of Yartsamiya Village in Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina.

    According to him, a set of 11 armed terrorists were sighted moving toward a mountainous area at the location.

    “Soon after, two separate sets of terrorists joined the first set of terrorists, and all were observed heading toward the same direction toward the mountainous high ground.

    “The need not to let the opportunity of neutralising the terrorists thus became imperative.

    “Subsequently, the terrorists were effectively engaged by NAF aircraft in several passes with several neutralised and the few survivors scampering in disarray,” he said.

    Gabkwet said the air strikes by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai had in the early hours of Saturday at Grazah in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno, also yielded the requisite outcome.

    He said the previous intelligence had revealed that Grazah, previously known as a hideout for terrorists, was converted into a logistics storage hub and an area for fabricating their Improvised Explosive Devices and other ammunition.

    According to him, recent intelligence also revealed significant terrorists’ activities consistent with terrorists’ behaviour around some makeshift structures at the location.

    “Consequently, air interdiction was conducted at the location with Battle Damage Assessment footages and feedback received revealing several terrorists neutralised.

    “These operations, carried out deep into terrorists’ enclaves, will continue as these areas are believed to aid their recruitment, training and nurturing of potential terrorists.

    “Attacking their logistics hubs also help in reducing their ability to carry out massive attacks, especially on innocent civilians and troop’s location.

    “The provision of timely information/intelligence by the populace has also been key to the successes recorded and will remain so if sustained,” he added.

  • Military kills 106 terrorists, apprehends 103

    Military kills 106 terrorists, apprehends 103

    The Defence Headquarters says that troops neutralised 106 terrorists and arrested 103 in different operations  nationwide in the last one week.

    The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj -Gen. Edward Buba, said this  while giving an update on the  operations in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

    Buba said the troops also apprehended 22 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 96 kidnap victims .

    He added that  troops recovered 171 assorted weapons and 2,452 rounds of  ammunition during the operations.

    “The breakdown comprised 47 AK47 rifles, one PKT gun, 18 pump action rifles, 17 locally fabricated guns, 14 dane guns, 12 locally fabricated pistols, one fabricated revolver, one hand grenade, 81mm mortar bomb, one mortar tube and four bandoliers

    “Others are: 995 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 468 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 317 live cartridges, 125 rounds of 9mm ammo, 313 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 13 rounds of 7.62 x 51mm, 19 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm, 167 empty shells of 7.62mm special ammo, 45 empty shells of 7.62mm NATO and 72 empty cases of cartridges.

    “They also include 14 magazines, 10 vehicles, 23 motorcycles, 19 mobile phones, one bicycles, four baofeng radios, and the sum of N112,920, amongst other items,” he said.

    In the North East, Buba said the troops of Operation Hadin Kai, neutralised 38 Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists, rescued 16 kidnap hostages and recovered several arms and ammunition, amongst others during the week.

    He said that a total of 46 terrorists, comprising eight adult males, 14 adult females and 24 children ,surrendered to troops, between March 13 and Mar 19, within the theatre of operations.

    In the North Central, Buba said the troops of Operations Safe Haven and Whirl Stroke eliminated seven violent extremists, apprehended 27 , rescued eight kidnap hostages and recovered  a  large cache of weapons.

    In the North West, he said the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji neutralised 31 terrorists, arrested 13 others and rescued 56 kidnap hostages and recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition.

    He added that troops of Operation Whirl Punch, apprehended nine violent extremists/terrorists and rescued 19 kidnap victims within the week.

    Buba said the troops of Operation Delta Safe in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 40 illegal refining sites with 51 dugout pits, 17 boats, 21 cooking ovens, three pumping machines, 15 storage tanks and four vehicles.

    He added that the troops also recovered 772,350 litres of stolen crude oil, 80,530 litres of illegally refined AGO and 1,500 litres of DPK within the week.

    In the South East, Buba said the troops of Operation UDO KA uncovered and destroyed IED factory in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra.

    He added that troops had  rescued five kidnap victims  o in Enugu North Land  and recovered one vehicle.