In a swift and strategic operation, troops of the 1 Division Nigerian Army apprehended two notorious terrorist collaborators and ammunition suppliers in the early hours of Tuesday, October 24, 2023.
The operation took place in the Awon general area of Kachia Local Government Area, Kaduna State, following actionable intelligence.
The two individuals, identified as Shuaibu Lawan and Salihu Usman, were tracked down in their respective residences in Awon.
According to the statement signed by Musa Yahaya, Lieutenant Colonel, and Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, the significant breakthrough was made possible due to information obtained from a previously detained collaborator who has been cooperating with the troops.
The statement, as obtained by The Informant247 stated that the seized items included a locally made AK 47 rifle, two dane guns, eight rounds of 9mm ammunition, seven live cartridges, and five expended cartridge shells.
Nigerian Army said that these dangerous items were discovered buried within the criminals’ compounds.
The statement furthered that in another operation on the same day, troops from the 1 Division encountered terrorists and criminal elements during a clearance operation in the Dogon daji-Saulawa general area of Birnin Gwari Local Government Area. “An intense gunfight ensued, with the troops displaying their superior firepower, forcing the criminals to scatter in disarray.”
Nigerian army said that the seized items in this operation included a G3 rifle, 16 motorcycles, two locally made guns, and a mobile phone, further crippling the activities of the criminal elements.
Major General Valentine Okoro, the General Officer Commanding of 1 Division Nigerian Army and Force Commander of Operation WHIRL PUNCH, commended the troops for their outstanding performance.
He emphasized the need to maintain the momentum and continue efforts to rid the Division’s Area of Responsibility of criminal elements.