Dislodged bandits on way to Kogi through forest – Army warns

The Nigerian Army has warned that the intensity of the bombardments of bandits and other criminals gangsters in the North was forcing bandits to flee and they are on their way to Kogi and other Middle belt States.

The military authority warned citizens to watch out for movements of strange people and report suspicious movement to the security agents.

The military dropped this hint at the backdrop of arrest of a fleeing bandit by troops
operating along Mokwa-Jebba road, during a stop-and-search operation along the road on Sunday.

In a statement issued and signed by the Director Army Public Relations, Brig. General Onyema Nwachukwu revealed that a fleeing bandit was intercepted at about 9:00pm, in a car travelling from Zuru in Kebbi State to Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The statement said: “The heat on bandits and other criminal elements in Niger State has caused them to start fleeing to supposed safe havens.

“Members of the public, particularly around Niger and contiguous states, are, therefore enjoined to be vigilant and report any suspected movement of fleeing bandits to security agencies.”

The statement further averred that the bandits impersonated himself as Sergeant Aminu Sule stating that, “upon a body search, the occupant was found to be in possession of a pair of camouflage uniform, military boots, knife and substance suspected to be charms.

“On further interrogation, the suspect confessed to be travelling to Ogbomosho in Oyo State. He further claimed that the uniform and boots belonged to his brother who is a soldier.

“However, on closely scrutinising the suspect, he was discovered to be fleeing from the ongoing operations in Niger State to a safe haven”, it said.

Nwachukwu revealed that over 1000 combined heavily armed security operatives have been deployed into Niger forests on Monday to rescue abducted Tegina Islamic school children.

The army added that the suspect was apprehended and handed over to the police at Mokwa for further investigation.