Soldiers, SSS clamp down on terrorists planning attacks in Kano, recover bombs
Joint security forces drawn from the Nigerian Army and the State Security Service (SSS) have clamped down on some suspected Boko Haram terrorists planning to wreak havoc through a major attack in Kano State.
Two of the terrorists were arrested by troops attached to 3 Brigade, Nigerian Army, in collaboration with SSS officials in a well coordinated operation at Gezawa Local Government Area of the state during a Friday morning raid on their hideouts.
Speaking to journalists at the army headquarters in Abuja, the spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Onyema Nwachukwu, disclosed that items the terrorists wanted to use to wreak havocs were recovered.
He listed those items as 5 RPG bombs, 6 hand grenades, 5 pairs of desert camouflage uniforms, 10 pairs of magazine pouches, some improvised explosive devices (IED) making materials, 5 AK-47 rifles, 5 AK-47 rifle magazines and 1 Rocket Propelled Gun (RPG).
Brigadier-General Nwachukwu said, “Joint troops of the Nigerian Army and the Department of State Services have successfully averted an imminent attack on Kano by insurgents.
“The operation was aimed at uncovering and apprehending suspected Boko Haram terrorists believed to be planning a major operation in Kano State. Consequently, the troops swiftly swung into action and apprehended two suspected terrorists, who are now in custody.
“The inter agency cooperation between the Nigerian Army and other security agencies as exemplified in the conduct of this operation is a testament of the strength of our collective resolve to defeat insurgency and other security challenges.”
He said the successful operation reinforced army’s unwavering commitment to protecting the lives and property of Nigerian citizens, adding that its officers remained resolute in their efforts to counter and degrade insurgency and other forms of security challenges across the country.
From left: French Ambassador to Nigeria, Emmanuelle Blatmann; French Envoy, Catherine Colonna; President Bola Tinubu and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila during the visit of the French Envoy to the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday President Emmanuel Macron at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Tinubu also acknowledged the signing of a €100million agreement between Nigeria and France to support the i-DICE programme - a federal government initiative to promote investment in information and communication technology (ICT) and creative art industries after appreciating the recovery of another tranche of the Abacha loot.
The agreement was signed by
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed appreciation to France over its move to return $150million stolen from Nigeria by a former military head of state, General Sani Abacha.
The president spoke on Friday while receiving the French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Catherine Colonna, who conveyed the goodwill of
Dr ‘Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Technology, and the French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs at an earlier event at Tafawa Balewa House, the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The president, who commended the strengthening of bilateral relations between Nigeria and France, said this progress followed his visit to Paris after his inauguration.