Troops arrest two Kaduna residents for supplying arms to terrorists

Two men suspected of supplying ammunition to terrorists have been apprehended by the troops of 1 Division of the Nigerian Army.

The troops also recovered weapons and 16 motorcycles in Kaduna.

Lt.-Col. Musa Yahaya, the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations 1 Division, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Wednesday in Kaduna.

According to Yahaya, “Following credible intelligence, troops of 1 Division, Nigerian Army, in the early hours of Oct. 24, arrested two terrorists’ collaborators and ammunition suppliers in Awon general area of Kachia Local Government in Kaduna State.”

He explained that based on intelligence from a previously arrested collaborator, who had been in the troops’ custody, the criminals were arrested in their various houses around Awon.

Items recovered from the suspects include one locally made AK 47 rifle, two dane guns, eight rounds of 9mm ammunition, seven live cartridges and five shells of expended cartridges.

Yahaya said the items were recovered from where they were buried in the criminals’ compound.

In another development, Yahaya said the troops, while on a clearance operation around the Dogon daji-Saulawa general area in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area, made contact with terrorists and criminal elements.

The troops, he explained engaged the criminals in a gun duel, forcing them to scamper in disarray.

He added that the soldiers recovered items like a G3 rifle, 16 motorcycles, two locally made guns and a mobile phone.

The statement explained that the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 1 Division Nigerian Army and Force Commander, Operation Whirl Punch, Maj.-Gen. Valentine Okoro, has charged the troops to sustain the tempo and clear all criminal elements from the division’s areas of responsibility.