The Defense Headquarters said troops of Operation Whirl Punch have apprehended one of the masterminds of the March 28, 2022, terrorist attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train service.
The Director, Defense Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadami, made this known at the biweekly news briefing on the operations of the armed forces on Thursday in Abuja.
Danmadami said the suspect was one of the three terrorists apprehended by the troops at Damba community in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Feb. 14.
He said the operation led to the recovery of two motorcycles, mobile phones, the sum of 5,000 dollars, other currencies, and some other sundry items.
According to him, troops on fighting patrol also neutralized seven terrorists at Ungwan Birni in Kajuru Local Government Area of the state.
He said 83 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 50 rounds of 7.62mm special, and seven magazines, among other items, were recovered from the terrorists.
Danmadami also said troops of Operation Hadarin Daji had, within the period, neutralized 23 terrorists, arrested nine, and rescued 23 abducted civilians.
According to him, the air component conducted a series of air interdiction operations to decimate and deny the terrorists’ freedom of action within the period under review.
“Specifically, on Feb. 13, an air interdiction operation was conducted based on an intelligence report that terrorists had gathered for a wedding ceremony at a location within the Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State.”
“Another air interdiction operation was conducted at identified terrorist locations within Kankara and Batsari local government areas, all in Katsina state.”
“Feedback revealed that several terrorists were neutralized in both air strikes,” the defense spokesman said.
(NAN)
