The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) Thursday declared a Nigerien national, Halilu Buzu, wanted over alleged terrorism, gunrunning, cattle rustling and illegal mining in Zamfara state.
The military high command accused Buzu of being behind the killing of 19 villagers at Farar Kasa part of the state.
Director Defence Media Operations Major-General Edward Buba disclosed this while addressing journalists in Abuja.
He described Buzu as a major arms supplier trusted by arms dealers in the supply of dangerous weapons from Libya.
He said when troops closed up on him; the suspect crossed the border into Republic of Niger for refuge.
Buba urged Nigerien authorities to apprehend him and hand him over to Nigeria.
He said: “Troops are in hunt of one, HALILU BUZU, a terrorist leader that hails from Buzu in Republic of Niger. He settled in Subbubu Forest and lives in Shinkafi LGA of Zamfara state.
“His camp and illegal gold mine are located at Kawayi in Anka LGA of Zamfara State, where he has a lot of boys working for him.
“Halilu is also a prominent cattle rustler and illegal gold miner. Last week, his boys killed 19 villagers at Farar Kasa. He is a High Value Target and therefore declared wanted. Meanwhile, he is one of several others that we would be declaring wanted.
“Additionally, Halilu is a major arms supplier, trusted by arms dealers from supplying arms from Libya. When troops close in on him, he moves across the border into Republic of Niger for refuge. At this time, we are through appropriate channels calling on the Nigerien authorities to apprehend and hold him accountable for his atrocities.
“This category of terrorists is relentlessly targeted by troops, such that we will be able to strike them out and take them off the battlefield as soon as possible.
“It is clear that the fate of the terrorist perpetrating insecurity in our nation will be violent and short. Troops will stop at nothing to take them out of the battlefield,” he said.
…Record of successes
Speaking on the successes recorded by troops deployed to different theatres of operations, he said troops neutralised 227 and arrested 529 persons.
He added that troops also arrested 11 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 253 kidnapped hostages across the country.
In the South South, Buba said, troops denied oil thieves crude estimated to worth the sum of One Billion Three Hundred and Twelve Million Four Hundred and Seventy Seven Thousand Fifty Naira (N1, 312,477,050.00) only.
Speaking further, he said troops recovered 231 assorted weapons and 6,441 assorted ammunition.
In a breakdown, he said: “89 AK47 rifles, 40 locally fabricated gun, 59 dane guns, 2 pump action guns, 8 locally fabricated pistols, 6 x 36 hand grenade, 3 IEDs, one RPG 7 tubes, one RPG 7 charger, 4 AGL rounds, one barrel of QJC Gun, one barrel of PKT with receiver, one barrel of Dushka Gun, 250kg bombs used by NATO and Eastern Bloc aircraft and one MRAP.
“Others are, 4,198 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 841 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 88 rounds of 5.56mm, 16 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm, 99 rounds of 7.62 x 51mm, 956 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm, 242 live cartridges, one PKM magazine, 24 magazines, 6 baofeng radios, 8 vehicles, 69 motorcycles, 66 mobile phones, 12 cutlasses and the sum of N1, 630, 000.00 only amongst other items.”
…135 kidnapped, 3 killed in Zamfara
In a related development, no fewer than 135 civilians were kidnapped by a group of terrorists in Gora Namaye town of Maradun local government area of Zamfara state.
A resident of the area identified as Salisu Lawali Gora, who spoke to Blueprint via the telephone, said the gunmen besieged the town around 1:00am Thursday and began house to house operations.
He further hinted that those kidnapped were mainly women and a few number of men while three people were killed during the invasion.
The resident said the terrorists, armed with heavy weapons, came in large number, riding motorcycles and surrounded the town.
“They came in a large number and surrounded the whole town while some began house to house operations and so far, a total of 135 persons were abducted, mainly women into the bush,” he said.
Making a plea, Gora said: “I am calling on federal and Zamfara state governments to come to our aid by deploying security personnel to the area in order to trace the hideout of these terrorists to rescue our people as we don’t have anything to pay for ransom.
“Majority of the kidnapped victims were struggling to survive and they don’t have money to pay for ransom, so we are appealing to Zamfara state and federal governments to come in and ensure the release of our people quickly.”
Spokesperson of the state police command, ASP Yazid Abubakar, could not be reached for comment as at the time of filling this report.