Following the increase in killings between herdsmen and farmers in Benue State, the Nigerian Police yesterday deployed a Special Force in Zaki-Biam, the area where the crisis is intense.
Police Spokesman, CSP Jimoh Moshood, said the Special Force would work with existing security intelligence that the force has gathered so far.
Moshood said: “Worried by the killing of innocent people by invading gunmen at Zaki Biam in Benue State on March 20, 2017, and destruction of property worth millions of naira, the Inspector General of Police (IG), Ibrahim Idris, has deployed Police Special Tactical Force, comprising Police Mobile Force (PMF specially trained Anti-riot Policemen), Counter Terrorism Units, Conventional Policemen, Special Anti-robbery Squad, SIB, detachment of EOD, Police K9 (Sniffer Dogs Section), Police Air wing (Aerial Surveillance Helicopters) and other undercover operatives with their headquarters in Zaki Biam, Ukum Local Government Area of the state.
“The Police Special Tactical Force is led by the Commissioner of Police in charge of PMF, Force Headquarters, Abuja, under the supervision of Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Department of Operations.”
He explained that “to achieve success in the operations, the Police Special Tactical Force will be proactive; work on actionable intelligence already at the disposal of the Nigeria Police Force and carry out massive deployment as well as 24 hours surveillance and patrol; continuous raids of identified and other suspected hideouts of the assailants, with a view to arrest promptly the attackers and their sponsors to prevent further loss of lives and also, nip the senseless killings and other criminalities in the general area in the bud.
“The deployment of the Police Special Tactical Force personnel will cover all the communities, towns, villages, vulnerable points, government and private infrastructures and facilities in the area.”
Moshood added that “Police helicopters will embark on guided missions and aerial surveillance of the entire area, especially difficult terrains and will operate in synergy with other police formations on the ground.
“The Joint Investigation Team attached to the tactical force is made up personnel of Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, FSARS, SIP, Intelligence Response Team, Technical Intelligence Unit and Special Tactical Squad headed by a Commissioner of Police under the supervision of DIG (FCIID with headquarters already in Zaki Biam and are making progress in the investigation into the killings of innocent people.
“The IG hereby urges traditional rulers, religious leaders, public office holders, politicians, opinion leaders, parents and guardians to prevail on their subjects and the youths to exercise restraint and support the personnel of the Police Special Tactical Force in the discharge of their responsibilities to bring the perpetrators of this gruesome killings to justice.”
Meanwhile, in a swift intervention to arrest, the resurgence of Boko Haram insurgency and other crimes, the Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested Boko Haram top commanders, other high profile terrorists and kidnappers in the country.
DSS Information Officer, Tony Opuiyo, who made the revelation said the arrest would go a long way in taming the operations of the Boko Haram sect and other kidnapping syndicates across Nigeria.
He said: “Recent operations carried out by the DSS in various parts of the country have significantly degraded capabilities of hoodlums, especially kidnappers and terrorists, whose activities have continually threatened the peace.
“For instance, on March 20, 2017, a suspected Boko Haram kingpin, Adenoyi Abdulasalam, was arrested in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, by a joint military and DSS operation team. An Ak-47 rifle was recovered from the suspect who is presently undergoing investigation.
“Abdulasalam was on the final stages of kidnapping some high level targets in Ekiti State, not only to raise funds but to terrorise communities in the state.”
He stated that “prior to this arrest, several other Boko Haram suspects had been apprehended in various parts of northern Nigeria especially in states like Bauchi, Yobe, Gombe, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Kogi.
“Typical cases of arrest include that of 29-year-old Boko Haram member, Usman Ladan Rawa (a.k.a Mr. X), on March 17, 2017, at Lafia, Nasarawa State. Rawa was discovered to have rented accommodation at Lafia for Abdullahi Isa, known for his notorious terrorist actions.
“His plan was to establish an effective base to conduct terrorism, kidnapping and robbery operations in Abuja, Minna, and other adjoining states.
“On March 15, 2017, Nasiru Sani (a.k.a Osama) was arrested at Ahmadu Bello Way, Bauchi.”
The DSS maintains that “Abdulsalam is a Boko Haram top commander, who was discovered to have escaped from Bauchi Central Prison in October 2010 and hid in Maiduguri, Borno State. Similarly, Adamu Jibrin, was arrested on March 13, 2017, at Jeka-da-Fari Market, Gombe State.
“He operated under the pseudo name of Dantata Sule and served as a middleman for Boko Haram members and their commanders especially the one simply identified as Kanumbu. Suspect affirmed his membership of the sect.
“On March 1 and 2, 2017, at Ngalda Town of Fika council area of Yobe State and Nagazi area of Adavi in Kogi State, Abdulazeez Umaru and Nuhu Usman a.k.a Okadigbo were respectively arrested.
“Umaru, who has confessed his membership of the Boko Haram sect was arrested by the Service in concert with the local vigilante. Preliminary investigations have revealed the participation of Usman in several deadly insurgent attacks in Kogi State.
“While the Service has ensured a relatively peaceful environment in the month of March, it is instructive to note that it recorded many successes in the month of February as can be seen from its operations during the period.
“On February 2, 2017, one Suleiman Yahaya who had been on the wanted list of security agencies was arrested during a raid in Potiskum Local Government Area, Yobe State, for his role in several terrorist attacks in Borno and Yobe States.
“Similarly, on February 7, 2017, in Kumbotso council area of Kano State, Mohammed Isyaka (a.k.a Maikwano) was also arrested for his complicity in Boko Haram attacks in the Northeast.
“Also, on February 9, 2017, at Ayingba, Dekina council area of Kogi State, the trio of Uwais Abubakar, Abdullahi Umaru and Mukhtar Suleman who are Boko Haram terrorists were arrested by the DSS tactical team.
“Suspects were actively involved in series of attacks on select targets in Kogi State such as the Federal Polytechnic Idah, Kogi State University and the newly constructed Kogi State Revenue House, Lokoja.
“Ali Bukar and Mustapha Umar were also arrested on February 17, 2017, at Zaria road, Kano State, for their involvements in Boko Haram activities. Abdullahi Isah, an indigene of Isari council area of Yobe State was equally arrested at the Lafia modern market, Lafia, Nasarawa State, for gun-running to raise funds for Boko Haram operations. He was a suspected armourer of the sect.”
Opuiyo added that “in furtherance of sustaining its operations against Boko Haram insurgency during the month of February, the DSS on February 28 arrested a Boko Haram Commander and food supplier, Ibrahim Fulata and his associates-Shamsudeen Aliyu, Zaharadeen Ibrahim and Suleiman Abubakar at Zaria clinic, Dustsen Tanshi area of Bauchi council area of Bauchi State.
“Determined to sustain the prevailing peace and stamp out all cases of kidnap in various states where it is taking root, the DSS staged vigorous operations which recorded successes.
“The duo of Ibrahim Sule and Bello Shehu were arrested on March 13 at Nasarawa town, Nasarawa Local Government Area of Kaduna State for their suspected involvement in the kidnap of two German nationals, Dr. Peter Breuning and Johannes Brehinger, on February 22, 2017, at Pahkogo, Kagarko council area of Kaduna State. They are being questioned to establish other possible members of the network.
“On February 9, 2017, at Umuahia, Abia State, Tochukwu Prince Johnson and Madubuike Christopher Iromaka were arrested for alleged threat to abduct two prominent businessmen in the state namely: Obioma Okorie and Chidozie Ohabuchiro.
“Also on February 12, a notorious local bandit, Saidu Musa was arrested in Makarfi council area of Kaduna State for terrorising people of the area. On arrest, a pump action gun and 23 cartridges were discovered in his vehicle, Toyota Carina KRD 523 EZ (Lagos).
“In another development, on February 3, Ashiru Abubakar, a suspected kidnapper, was arrested at Maraban Jos Junction, Igabi council area of Kaduna State.
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