Two individuals suspected of providing ammunition to terrorists have been apprehended by troops from the 1 Division of the Nigerian Army.
In addition, the troops discovered weapons and 16 motorcycles in the region of Kaduna.
Lt.-Col. Musa Yahaya, the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the 1 Division, confirmed the arrests in a statement released on Wednesday in Kaduna.
Yahaya explained, “Based on credible intelligence, troops from the 1 Division of the Nigerian Army arrested two collaborators and arms suppliers to terrorists in the Awon general area of Kachia Local Government in Kaduna State on October 24.”
He further stated that the criminals were arrested in their respective homes in Awon, with the assistance of information obtained from a previously detained collaborator.
Among the items recovered from the suspects were a locally made AK-47 rifle, two dane guns, eight rounds of 9mm ammunition, seven live cartridges, and five expended cartridge shells.
Yahaya revealed that these items were found buried within the criminals’ compound.
In another incident, Yahaya disclosed that while conducting a clearance operation in the Dogon daji-Saulawa general area of Birnin Gwari Local Government Area, the troops encountered terrorists and criminal elements.
Engaging in a gunfight, the troops managed to disperse the criminals, who fled in disarray.
Additionally, the soldiers confiscated a G3 rifle, 16 motorcycles, two locally made guns, and a mobile phone.
According to the statement, Major General Valentine Okoro, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 1 Division Nigerian Army and Force Commander of Operation Whirl Punch, urged the troops to continue their efforts in eliminating all criminal elements from the division’s areas of responsibility.