Troops Arrest Terrorist, Arms Smugglers, Others In North West

Troops of the Joint Task Force North West Operation HADARIN DAJI (OPHD) have continued to record tremendous successes in a coordinated dry season clearance operations in Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi and Katsina States, leading to the arrest of a terrorist kingpin, Arm Smugglers and neutralizing several terrorists in its Areas of Operational Responsibilities.

In a recent clearance operation conducted on the 26 January 2024, OPHD troops cleared and destroyed terrorist enclaves at Pada, Matsomatso and Yurlumu villages at Batsari LGA of Katsina state. During the operation, 7 terrorists were neutralized while others escaped with severe gunshot wounds.

Similarly, on the same day, OPHD troops in Zamfara state while on fighting patrol neutralized 2 terrorists at Getso and Ubaka villages under Maru LGA of Zamfara state. During the exploitation, troops recovered 1 AK47 rifle, 1 Magazine and 7.62mm special ammunition. Also, 2 motorcycles were recovered and destroyed.

Also the resilient troops while responding to Intelligence report on sighting armed terrorists along the Sheme – Dandume road in Katsina state. Troops’ immediately mobilized to the area and engaged the terrorists, forcing them to flee. However, one of the terrorists was neutralized.

In another development, the Joint task force OPHD troops arrested a notorious Bandits warlord Usman Abubakar, popularly known as Harinde. Harinde, a 35 years old bandit leader who has been terrorizing Shinkafi, and Zurmi LGAs and other villages in Sokoto state was arrested on Thursday 26 January 2024 at Shinkafi following an intelligence report.

Furthermore, acting on credible intelligence on a group of notorious gunrunners with intentions to smuggle weapons into Zamfara state, troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI, swiftly set up a snap checkpoint and arrested 3 suspected persons at Shinkafi LGA of Zamfara state.

The suspects were identified as Musa Usman, Aminu Ibrahim and Isah Mohammed. And the Items recovered from them are, the sum of Two Million Five Hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira, 1 Volkswagen Wagon, 3 mobile phones and other items

A preliminary investigation revealed that the huge sum of money was for exchange for Assorted weapons at the Illela border in Sokoto state before they were arrested by the troops.

Relatedly, combined troops of OPHD and DSS acting on credible intelligence, arrested one notorious terrorists’ collaborator, Ibrahim Atiku from Amawara village of Dan Musa LGA in Katsina state.

All the arrested suspects are undergoing preliminary investigation before they will be handed over to the appropriate security agencies for further actions.