Police arrest suspected mastermind of Abuja-Kaduna train attack, Abdullahi

Cyril Mbah, Abuja.

 

The Nigeria Police have announced that it operatives have made a major and significant breakthrough with the arrest of the alleged mastermind behind the violent assault on the Abuja-Kaduna passenger train in March 2022.

 

The arrested mastermind was identified as Ibrahim Abdullahi, also known as Moniker Mandi.

 

These were announced at a press briefing in Kaduna on Thursday, May 2, 2024 by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who also said that Abdullahi’s arrest marked a pivotal moment in the investigations into the unfortunate Abuja-Kaduna violent train attack.

 

 

ACP Adejobi said that the deadly Abdullahi, a terrorist was also involved in the abduction of the students of Greenfield University in 2021 in addition to other terror activities.

 

. Apprehend 50 suspects over violence, uncover drug den at Ile-Epo, Lagos

 

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force says it has restored normalcy to Ile-Epo in the Abule Egba area of Lagos State following clashes between hoodlums and youths.

Many people were reportedly injured after hoodlums clashed in the Ile-Epo area of Alimosho local government area.

According to sources, a fight broke out in the market on Wednesday night and continued till Thursday morning.

Some shops were set on fire by hoodlums while some goods worth millions of Naira were destroyed in the process.

But following deployment of police officers, led by Divisional Police Officer, DPO of Oke-Odo, the unrest at Ile-Epo was contained.

Consequently, over 50 suspects linked to the clashes were arrested, and the shanties they occupied were demolished, thereby dislodging them from their illegal activities.

In a statement posted by the Lagos State Police Command, signed by the PPRO, SP Benjamin Hundeyin on Thursday:

“Over fifty suspects have so far been arrested while the shanties they occupied have been destroyed, effectively dislodging them,”  the police revealed.

According to a statement,

“during the operation to dismantle the shanties, law enforcement officers stumbled upon a hidden drug den that had been operating in plain sight.

“The discovery shed light on the extent of criminal activities in the area and raised concerns about the prevalence of drug-related issues”.

The statement added that the State Commissioner of Police, CP Adegoke Fayoade, wasted no time in directing the prompt prosecution of the arrested hoodlums.

“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Adegoke Fayoade, has directed the prompt prosecution of the arrested hoodlums and has equally warned that the Command would decisively deal with anyone found breaching the peace, in accordance with the law,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Operations), Area Commander Alagbado, alongside other Divisional Police Officers under the Area Command, remained at the scene of the clashes to prevent any potential breakdown of law and order in the area.

.As gunmen kill APC Abuja 2023 chairmanship candidate

In a nother development, the 2023 Kuje Area Council Abuja Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Talban Alhaji Hamidu Gaube has been killed by unknown gunmen.

Taliban was allegedly shot and killed on Wednesday evening by unknown gunmen, who also kidnapped three relatives working with him at his farm in Gaube village.

The tragic incident shook Kuje town as residents, who have endured increased harassment by kidnappers, armed robbers and one-chance criminals since last year trooped out enmass to mourn the politician.

Kuje Aea Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was thrown into mourning which brought the town to a standstill on Thursday morning when the deceased was laid to rest at the Muslim Cemetery located along Lanto Junction district if the town, according to Islamic traditions.

The Kuje/Gwagwalada Highway was blocked for several hours as hundreds of APC supporters on motorcycles and on foot joined other residents, friends, well wishers and associates in the long motorcade which followed the ambulance conveying the remains of the deceased to the Kuje Muslim Cemetery for burial.

Speaking to newsmen after the burial, Kuje Area Council Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Sabo said efforts are being intensified by area council chairmen in collaboration with the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to improve security in the FCT satellite towns especially around farms to enable farmers take advantage of the rainy season and increase agricultural yield.

Sabo acknowledged that crimes such as kidnapping and armed robbery have sharply increased in Kuja Area Council but promised that security agencies are working round the clock to increase patrols of identified dark spots to rid the areas of criminal elements.

“So many things are being put in place to secure the people not only in Kuje but throughout the FCT. What happened yesterday (Wednesday) was a targeted attack and there are strategies being put in place to prevent its reoccurrence,” Sabo said.

Late Talban contested the FCT chairmanship election under the umbrella of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and had completed arrangements to contest again in next year’s polls.

 

.Military to court martial 2 officers over bombing of civilians in Kaduna

 

However, the Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj -Gen. Edward Buba, says two personnel of the Nigerian Army are facing a court martial in respect of the bombing incident at Tudun Biri in Kaduna State.

Buba disclosed this while briefing newsmen on Thursday in Abuja on the operations of the Armed Forces.

Recall that on December 3, 2023, no fewere than 85 civilians were mistakenly killed in military drone attacks in Tudun Biri, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

However, Buba said that the military would punish personnel found culpable in the December 3 incident, adding that investigation was conducted and concluded with a resolve to ensure that the personnel involved were brought to book and justice served for the victims.

He said: “The military has conducted a painstaking investigation into the incident and has initiated disciplinary action against those culpable.

“Accordingly, the affected personnel are to face a court martial for acts of omission or commission with respect to the incident.

“I am however constrained not to speak much about the incident as it would be adjudged as prejudicial being a case before court martial.

“The military will take extra precautions in the future to ensure that non combatants are safe,” he said.

Defence Headquarters says troops have eliminated a total of 715 terrorists and rescued 465 kidnap victims in ground and air operations across the country in the month of April.
The Director, Defence Media Operation, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, made this known while briefing newsmen on Thursday in Abuja on the operations of the Armed Forces.
He added that the troops also apprehended no fewer than 1,146 suspects during ambushes, raids, fighting patrols and other covert operations during the month.
Buba said several enclaves of notable terrorist leaders And commanders like Nasanda, Babaru, Kamilu Buzaru, Ali Dawud, Bakura Fallujah and Mallam Ari, across North West, were bombarded and destroyed.
According to him, other terrorist leaders and commanders engaged by air strikes include that of Mallam Yadee in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger and Bello Turji’s camp in Kagara forest located between Shinkafi in Zamfara and Isa LGA in Sokoto State.
“All the surviving terrorist Commanders and leaders are walking corpses as we would get them, sooner than later.”
Buba explained that “the synchronised strikes between the ground and air forces during the period under review resulted in over 715 terrorist neutralised, arrested 1,146 persons and rescued 465 kidnapped hostages.
“Furthermore, troops recovered 937 assorted weapons, 23,034 assorted ammunitions and denied the oil theft of an estimated sum over N2 billion.’’
In the North East, the defence spokesman said troops of Operation Hadin Kai conducted operations into Sambisa Forest, Timbuktu Triangle and the Tumbus around the Lake Chad Region within the month.
He said that the operations led to the elimination of 248 terrorist, arrest of 422, and rescue of 163 kidnapped hostages while a total of 714 Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists and their families surrendered to troops.
According to him, the recovered seized items include 208 AK47 rifles, 34 fabricated and 45 dane guns, 18 assorted arms, 3,672 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 2,058 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 422 assorted ammunitions.
In the North Central, Buba said operations conducted by troops of Operation Safe Haven in several hot spots neutralised 32 terrorists and violent extremists and arrested 148 while 35 kidnap hostages were rescued.
He said the troops equally recovered 23 AK47 rifles, 19 fabricated guns, 93 assorted arms, 788 rounds of 7.62mm special, 451 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 256 assorted ammunitions.
The defence spokesman also said that troops of Operation Whirl Stroke had conducted operations to several criminal strongholds in April.
“Overall, troops neutralised 60 terrorists, arrested 99 suspects and rescued 57 kidnapped hostages and also recovered 40 AK47 rifles, 60 assorted arms, 917 rounds of 7.62mm special, 896 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 331 assorted ammunitions,’’ he said.
In the North West, Buba said the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji maintained the momentum against terrorists hibernating in Bayan Ruwa and other enclaves.
Responding to questions, Buba said there has been linkage between illegal mining and acts of terrorism in the region, as well as foreign involvement in illegal mining.
He said the troops neutralised no fewer than 297 terrorist, apprehended 141 suspects and rescued 143 kidnap hostages within the period, in addition to the recovery of 182 AK47 rifles, 57 fabricated guns, 71 assorted arms, 4,192 rounds of 7.62mm special, 2,341 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 556 assorted ammunitions.
Under Operation Whirl Punch, Buba said the troops neutralised 31 terrorist, arrested 69 suspects, rescued 17 kidnap victims, and recovered 20 AK47 rifles, 28 assorted arms, 538 rounds of 7.62mm special, 397 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 1,200 assorted ammunitions.
In the South-South, he said the troops of Operation Delta Safe neutralised nine violent extremists, arrested 164 persons involved in crude oil theft and recovered 2,563,335 liters of crude oil, 254,620 liters of AGO, 1,050 liters of DPK and 8,000 liters of PMS.
He added that troops also recovered 56 assorted weapons and destroyed 74 wooden boats, 1,501 assorted ammunitions and 76 illegal refining sites during the month.
The defence spokesman added that in the South East, troops of Operation UDO KA neutralised 38 terrorist, arrested 103 suspects and rescued 50 kidnap hostages.
According to him, 8 AK47 rifles, 23 pump action guns, 661 rounds of 7.62mm special, 34 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 589 live cartridges, 225 assorted ammunitions and 43 other equipment were recovered within the month under review. (NAN)