No fewer than 42 suspected bandits have been arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in collaboration with the 176 Guards Battalion of the Nigeria Army.
According to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commander of the NSCDC, Olusola Odumosu, the bandits/terrorists were arrested in the forest of Tsaumi Village in Niger State, following credible intelligence.
Odumosu who briefed newsmen at the headquarters of the corps in Abuja while parading the suspects, praised the Nigeria Army for collaborating with the NSCDC to rid the FCT Abuja and its environs of criminal elements.
He said: “I am happy to announce to you today that the charge we gave our personnel some days ago is paying off. Acting on credible intelligence and in collaboration with the 176 Guards Battalion of the Nigerian Army, 42 suspected bandits and terrorists operating under the cover of being miners of solid minerals have been arrested.
“The suspects were intercepted at the forest of Tsaumi Village bothering Lambata in Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State.
“Preliminary investigation by the Corps revealed that they may not be miners as they presented but rather suspected bandits fleeing the ongoing onslaught of the military operation in Zamfara State through the forest zone of Niger State into the FCT through Gwagwalada Area Council enroute Pai Village of Kwali Area Council.
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“In the course of interrogation, they were unable to disclose the mining site and company name they alleged to be working for.
“Further investigation revealed that this group of young men have been operating within Zamfara, Kogi, and Niger states.
“At the time they were intercepted, they had no evidence to show they were going on mining activities which suggests they have a sinister agenda.
“They have also confessed to having sponsors, however investigation in that regard is still on-going and you will be intimated when it is concluded.”
The FCT Commander further said that the command arrested four syndicates who specialised in the theft and vandalisation of critical assets and infrastructure in the FCT.
He said in a joint operation with men of the Department of States Security (DSS) that the suspects were arrested at various locations within Abuja and were currently helping security operatives with more information on their modus operandi.
Odumosu gave their names as Bartholomew Anthony, Hakilu Muhammed, Abdulrahaman Abbas, and Samila Promise.
