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LequteMan
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The Nigerian Army has arrested a rogue solder who specializes in training militants in the Niger Delta during its arms and ammunition mop-up in Kula Community, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers state.
According to Lt.-Col. Timothy Opurum, Commanding Officer of 2 Brigade Garrison of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, the soldier was alleged to have been terrorising many communities in Rivers, deserted the army in 2002.
“Based on intelligence reports, we carried out a sting operation where we captured 13 members militant gang including their notorious kingpin leader, simply known as Kenneth.
“We also arrested a soldier, who deserted the army in 2002 and specialised in training of militants in weapons handling and operational tactics.
“The soldier (names withheld), who is a Private, joined the army in 1998 and served in 331 Artillery Regiment Kalapanzi Barracks in Kaduna before he was declared missing in 2002.
“The soldier, who is related to the kingpin of the militant group, is still in our custody and will be released to prosecuting agencies after formal dismissal from the army,” he said.
Opurum said that troops raided the community on account of incessant cases of militancy, kidnapping, piracy, cultism and killings which occurred regularly in the area.
The commanding officer said that intelligence revealed that the community was not only serving as hideout for criminals but hoodlums were also storing caches of arms and ammunition in the area.
He said the raid was “highly successful” as arms and ammunitions were recovered by troops during the operation.
“However, some of the arms and ammunitions had already been moved by the militants before our troops arrived at the community.
“Twelve suspects excluding the deserter-soldier, the arms and ammunitions had been handed over to the state Directorate of Security Services (DSS) for further investigation and prosecution,” he said.
According to Lt.-Col. Timothy Opurum, Commanding Officer of 2 Brigade Garrison of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, the soldier was alleged to have been terrorising many communities in Rivers, deserted the army in 2002.
“Based on intelligence reports, we carried out a sting operation where we captured 13 members militant gang including their notorious kingpin leader, simply known as Kenneth.
“We also arrested a soldier, who deserted the army in 2002 and specialised in training of militants in weapons handling and operational tactics.
“The soldier (names withheld), who is a Private, joined the army in 1998 and served in 331 Artillery Regiment Kalapanzi Barracks in Kaduna before he was declared missing in 2002.
“The soldier, who is related to the kingpin of the militant group, is still in our custody and will be released to prosecuting agencies after formal dismissal from the army,” he said.
Opurum said that troops raided the community on account of incessant cases of militancy, kidnapping, piracy, cultism and killings which occurred regularly in the area.
The commanding officer said that intelligence revealed that the community was not only serving as hideout for criminals but hoodlums were also storing caches of arms and ammunition in the area.
He said the raid was “highly successful” as arms and ammunitions were recovered by troops during the operation.
“However, some of the arms and ammunitions had already been moved by the militants before our troops arrived at the community.
“Twelve suspects excluding the deserter-soldier, the arms and ammunitions had been handed over to the state Directorate of Security Services (DSS) for further investigation and prosecution,” he said.
