The Defence Headquarters, Abuja, said on Thursday that it had launched an operation to curtail arms proliferation in the country, noting that 35 criminals were killed by troops and 98 suspects arrested in two weeks.
The military said the suspects had been handed over to the police commands in the states where they were arrested and their prosecution would begin at the end of investigations.
Our correspondent learnt that the suspects were from Benue, Taraba, Nasarawa, Zamfara, Kaduna and Plateau states.
The Director, Defence Information, Brig Gen John Agim, at a press conference in Abuja, said the military suffered casualties during the operation, noting that two soldiers were killed while two soldiers were also missing in action.
Agim said, “On October 8, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Abayomi Olonisakin, established Operation 777 to identify and destroy bandits and other persons bearing arms against the Nigerian state.
“In the last two weeks that we embarked on Operation 777, a large number of arms, ammunition and other dangerous weapons were recovered. During the period under review, our troops neutralised 35 criminals and 98 suspected bandits were arrested. They are undergoing investigation and shall be handed over to the police for prosecution.
“Within the period, 419 rustled cattle were recovered, 405 sheep and 101 goats were recovered and handed over to the various state committees established to return the animals to the rightful owners. In the operation around the maritime areas, 398 metric tonnes of stolen crude oil were recovered.
“Other items recovered were 67,000 litres of illegally refined diesel, 126 reservoirs, 34 illegal refineries, 27 wooden boats and drums of 100 litres premium motor spirit. They were recovered and destroyed.
“Regrettably, during these operations, the military suffered some casualties. Two soldiers were killed in action while two others were injured. Two others are missing in action while one AK-47 rifle is also missing in action.”
Similarly, the Nigerian Army on Thursday commenced the Exercise Crocodile Smile 111 in Calabar, Cross River State, saying it was to ensure a smooth environment for the 2019 general elections as well as to tackle the invasion of Cameroonian rebels smuggling weapons into Nigeria.
The Chief of the Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, inaugurated the exercise at the 13 Brigade Command, noting that the operations would cover mobile patrols, snap checkpoints, raids, roadblocks, cordon and search and others.
According to the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations and the 82 Division’s spokesman, Col Sagir Musa, the army chief, represented by the General Officer Commanding, Maj Gen Emmanuel Kabuk, stated that the exercise would include both land and river operations.
Musa said, “The Chief of Army Staff has started a Command Post and Field Training Exercise, Crocodile Smile III, in the 13 Brigade’s area of operational responsibility which is Calabar, Cross River State. The ceremony was conducted at Ikang Forward Operation Base, Ikang, in the Bakassi Local Government Area of the state.”
The army chief, Buratai, said the Exercise Crocodile Smile would be followed by Exercise Python Dance in preparations for the 2019 general elections.
The military said the suspects had been handed over to the police commands in the states where they were arrested and their prosecution would begin at the end of investigations.
Our correspondent learnt that the suspects were from Benue, Taraba, Nasarawa, Zamfara, Kaduna and Plateau states.
The Director, Defence Information, Brig Gen John Agim, at a press conference in Abuja, said the military suffered casualties during the operation, noting that two soldiers were killed while two soldiers were also missing in action.
Agim said, “On October 8, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Abayomi Olonisakin, established Operation 777 to identify and destroy bandits and other persons bearing arms against the Nigerian state.
“In the last two weeks that we embarked on Operation 777, a large number of arms, ammunition and other dangerous weapons were recovered. During the period under review, our troops neutralised 35 criminals and 98 suspected bandits were arrested. They are undergoing investigation and shall be handed over to the police for prosecution.
“Within the period, 419 rustled cattle were recovered, 405 sheep and 101 goats were recovered and handed over to the various state committees established to return the animals to the rightful owners. In the operation around the maritime areas, 398 metric tonnes of stolen crude oil were recovered.
“Other items recovered were 67,000 litres of illegally refined diesel, 126 reservoirs, 34 illegal refineries, 27 wooden boats and drums of 100 litres premium motor spirit. They were recovered and destroyed.
“Regrettably, during these operations, the military suffered some casualties. Two soldiers were killed in action while two others were injured. Two others are missing in action while one AK-47 rifle is also missing in action.”
Similarly, the Nigerian Army on Thursday commenced the Exercise Crocodile Smile 111 in Calabar, Cross River State, saying it was to ensure a smooth environment for the 2019 general elections as well as to tackle the invasion of Cameroonian rebels smuggling weapons into Nigeria.
The Chief of the Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, inaugurated the exercise at the 13 Brigade Command, noting that the operations would cover mobile patrols, snap checkpoints, raids, roadblocks, cordon and search and others.
According to the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations and the 82 Division’s spokesman, Col Sagir Musa, the army chief, represented by the General Officer Commanding, Maj Gen Emmanuel Kabuk, stated that the exercise would include both land and river operations.
Musa said, “The Chief of Army Staff has started a Command Post and Field Training Exercise, Crocodile Smile III, in the 13 Brigade’s area of operational responsibility which is Calabar, Cross River State. The ceremony was conducted at Ikang Forward Operation Base, Ikang, in the Bakassi Local Government Area of the state.”
The army chief, Buratai, said the Exercise Crocodile Smile would be followed by Exercise Python Dance in preparations for the 2019 general elections.
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