In an effort to rid the nation’s capital of terrorists’ hideouts, the Nigerian military have stormed an illegal mining site located at Tukashara Wasa, Apo, in Abuja Municipal Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory.
Disclosing this at a press briefing which held at the Defence headquarters, Abuja, on Thursday, the Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadami, said 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. He further revealed that two trailers loaded with illegally mined items were discovered during the operation.
“The troops recovered four Dane guns, one locally fabricated gun, 14 cutlasses, four sledge hammers, 25 motorcycles, one vehicle and other items. Troops on the same day also arrested two trailers loaded with illegal mined items,” he added.
He also revealed that its troops repelled an attack jointly carried out by 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 country does not rely on foreign nations to secure the country, stating that the military was not oblivious of the security situation in the country.
He charged the media to always be truthful in their reports on security and other related information sent out to the public.