Director, Defence Media Operations (DMO) Major General Musa Danmadami says troops have seized and crushed 429 motorcycles from terrorists and other criminals in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The DMO disclosed this to newsmen, at the Defence Headquarters on Thursday, during the biweekly briefing on troops activities and operational successes in the various operational theaters within the six geo-political zones of the Country.
General Danmadami who said the briefing covers the period between 1st to 22nd December, 2022 stated that, “Troops in the North Central have sustained their crack down on the nefarious activities of terrorists and other criminal elements in their general area of operation.”
He explained that on 8th December, 2022, troops in “conjunctions with other security agencies raided Karamajiji and Lugbe general areas in Abuja Municipal Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory to rid the general area of the menace of criminal elements.
“During the operations the team intercepted a total of 429 motorcycles. The motorcycles were subsequently crushed same day in an open field at Lugbe in the presence of all participating security agencies.
“Equally, on 16th December, 2022, troops in conjunction with other security agencies conducted fighting patrol to Kassanki village in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory and arrested five suspected kidnappers in their hideout.
“Similarly, between 8th and 15th December 2022, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN raided the residence of a notorious gunrunner who was on the wanted lists of own troops at Rampla village in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State. During the operation troops recovered two fabricated pistols and one fabricated rifle.
“Troops also carried out covert operation on 9th December, 2022 and arrested two notorious kidnappers at Gora and Maijuju villages in Jos East Local Government Area of Plateau State. Troops while on patrol had also contact with bandits within Kampani general area in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State.
“Following the operation, troops neutralized one bandit while others fled. Troops recovered 25 rounds of 7.62mm special and two motorcycles among other items. Also, a notorious gun runner was equally arrested along Kwankonka-Zaria road in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau state on 19 December 2022 with 1 fabricated AK47 rifle, 1 fabricated pistol and 533 rounds of 7.62mm NATO concealed in a bag of grains, while a bandolier was also discovered inside a jerrycan of palm oil.
“Consequently, within the weeks in review, troops recovered three locally fabricated AK47 rifles, two locally fabricated pistol, 25 rounds of 7.62mm special, 533 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, tre motorcycles, cutlasses and mobile phones among other items.
In a related development, Danmadami said, the air component of Operation SAFE HAVEN on 3rd December, 2022 conducted air interdiction operation at identified bandits hideouts at Odare, Magama forests and Zurak general area of Kampani village in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State.
“During the operation seven motorcycles, each mounted by three bandit were seen trying to escape but were bombarded. Feedback confirmed that the bandits suffered severe casualties as they were all confirmed to have been neutralized in the air strikes.”