Troops arrest ‘suppliers of ammunition’, recover weapons in Kaduna

Troops of 1 Division of the Nigerian army, Kaduna, have arrested two suspected suppliers of ammunition to terrorists.

In a statement on Wednesday, Musa Yahaya, acting deputy director, army public relations, said the arrests were made on October 24 in Awon general area of Kachia LGA in Kaduna, following credible intelligence from a previously arrested collaborator, who had been in the custody of the troops.

He said the troops also recovered weapons and 16 motorcycles.

“The two arrested criminals and items recovered included one locally made AK 47 rifle, two dane guns, eight rounds of 9mm ammunition, seven live cartridges and five shells of expended cartridges,” the statement reads.

“The items were recovered from where they were earlier buried in the criminals’ compound.”

Yahaya said in another operation on the same day, troops of the division, while on clearance operation around Dogon daji-Saulawa general area in Birnin Gwari LGA, made contact with terrorists and criminal elements.

He said the troops engaged the criminals in a gun duel, forcing them to scamper in disarray due to superior fire power.

Items recovered included a G3 rifle, 16 motorcycles, two locally made guns and a mobile phone.

“The General Officer Commanding(GOC), 1 Division Nigerian Army and Force Commander, Operation Whirl Punch, Maj.-Gen. Valentine Okoro, has charged the troops to sustain the tempo and clear all criminal elements from the division’s areas of responsibility,” the statement reads.