Stephen Okolo, an operative of the State Security Service (SSS), testified in a Federal High Court in Ibadan on Monday, detailing how technology facilitated the arrest of three security personnel charged with kidnapping and banditry in Oyo State.
Okolo was the first prosecution witness in the trial involving three officers from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and one other defendant.
The NSCDC officers, Olamide Okesola, Adedeji Adewale, and Asmau Omar, along with Emmanuel Olatunji, an unlicensed arms dealer, are facing multiple charges.
In his testimony before Justice N.E. Maha, Okolo explained that the SSS used its technical expertise and surveillance equipment to track and arrest the suspects involved in rising cases of kidnapping and banditry in the Okeogun area of Oyo State and parts of Kwara.
“Due to the surge in kidnappings and banditry in the region, the DSS deployed technical tools to monitor, trace, and apprehend the criminals,” Okolo stated.
“Through this operation, we were able to identify key suspects, including two notorious terrorists, Baguda and Banshile, who were operating in the area.”
He further revealed that the operation, which began in January 2023, led to the arrest of Lawan Buhari and one NSCDC officer believed to be supplying weapons to the terrorists.
Subsequent actions led to the capture of the other three defendants.
As evidence, Okolo presented a bag containing 1,000 rounds of live ammunition seized from Lawan Buhari. He explained that the operation successfully disrupted the supply chain of arms to terrorists, thereby reducing the rate of criminal activities in the region.
Lawan Buhari, who testified as the second prosecution witness, revealed that he had been paid large sums of money to supply AK47 guns and ammunition to the defendants for use by terrorists.
Buhari explained that he had been working with the “Operation Burst” security outfit when the NSCDC officers approached him to begin supplying arms.
The defendants are facing a 15-count amended charge that includes conspiracy, terrorism, unlawful arms dealing, and aiding terrorism. All four have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Justice Maha adjourned the case until February 11 for further trial.