Troops Arrest Suspected Killers of Soldier, Recover Stolen Military Rifles in South-East
Troops Arrest Suspected Killers of Soldier, Recover Stolen Military Rifles in South-East
Troops of the Nigerian Army have arrested three suspected members of a criminal gang allegedly linked to the May 4 ambush that killed a soldier and wounded another, recovering military weapons stolen during the attack in a coordinated operation across Rivers, Delta and Imo states.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the arrests followed a sustained intelligence-driven investigation by troops of the 34 Artillery Brigade under Operation UDO KA (OPUK), which was launched to track those responsible for the ambush and recover weapons taken from the soldiers.
The operation was reportedly intensified through a series of raids and the interrogation of previously arrested gang members, which yielded intelligence that identified three principal suspects as Albert Tony, alias “Chiboy”; Temple Eburua, alias “Marathon”; and Vitalis Eburua, alias “Onowu.”
Investigators reportedly established that the suspects initially fled to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, before relocating to Oleh in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, allegedly with the assistance of an associate identified as Mr Abire.
According to the sources, troops arrested Abire in Port Harcourt on July 30. During interrogation, he reportedly provided information that enabled security operatives to establish the suspects’ location in Oleh.
Acting on the intelligence, troops of the 34 Artillery Brigade moved into Delta State in the early hours of July 31 and linked up with personnel of the 181 Battalion.
The joint team subsequently raided a location at Opaebe, Oleh, where the three suspects were arrested.
Following their arrest, the suspects allegedly led troops to a hideout in Ohaji/Egbema, where military weapons reportedly stolen during the May ambush had been concealed.
Further exploitation of the operation also led troops to another suspected criminal camp at Umudike Plantation.
Among the weapons recovered from the hideouts were military arms believed to have been stolen from the soldiers killed during the ambush. They included one AK-47 rifle, two AK-47 magazines, one FN rifle and two FN rifle magazines.
The troops also recovered additional weapons and ammunition, comprising three AK-47 rifles, nine AK-47 magazines, one pistol with its magazine, 194 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, 45 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition and one fragmentation jacket.
Other items suspected to be linked to the gang’s criminal activities were also recovered during the operation.
The three suspects remain in the custody of the 34 Artillery Brigade and are undergoing further interrogation as troops intensify efforts to unravel the wider criminal network, establish the suspects’ roles in the May attack and identify other members and accomplices.
Military sources described the operation as a significant breakthrough in the investigation into attacks on security personnel in the region.
They added that the recovery of the stolen service weapons would not only assist ongoing investigations but also help prevent the firearms from being used in further attacks against troops and civilians.The headline emphasises the two strongest news elements: the arrest of suspects linked to the soldier’s killing and the recovery of stolen military weapons.
By TimesNG