Nigerian Army Successfully Apprehends Notorious Criminals, kidnappers

The Nigerian Army has made significant strides in combating insecurity, leading to the arrest of several high-profile criminals involved in illegal dealings and violent extremism. That was during a recent series of successful anti-terror operations.

One of the apprehended individuals, Janet Igohia, 31, was taken into custody on January 25, 2024, for her alleged role in collecting a N1.5 million ransom for a kidnapped person in Taraba State. SaharaReporters broke the news, highlighting that Igohia, the wife of the late Gana Terwase, a former high-profile gun runner from Benue State, was captured during the operation.

During the interrogation process, Igohia revealed her association with Gana Terwase before his demise in a shootout with Nigerian soldiers in Benue State. She further disclosed her current marriage to another notorious terrorist, Voryor Gata, who held the position of second in command to the late Gana Terwase.

In a separate operation, the troops also arrested Joshua Dutse Idah, a notorious gunrunner responsible for supplying arms and ammunition to terror groups across the country. The spokesperson for the 6th Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Jalingo confirmed these multiple arrests on Thursday, emphasising the significant recovery of a large cache of arms, ammunition, and cash from the suspects.

According to the spokesperson, the 93 Battalion under the Brigade successfully apprehended Dutse on January 20, 2024, in Ibi town, Ibi LGA. He remarked, “On interrogation, Dutse confessed he was going to Katsina State to bring in AK 47 rifles and that he received a part payment of 300,000 Naira (211.61 USD).” The search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of 1 PK machine gun, 399 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition, and 3 AK 47 rifle magazines.

Additionally, on January 25, 2024, troops received information about extremist groups and insurgents planning to move to a drop zone for ransom collections. Acting on this intelligence, Janet Igohia was arrested in Chanchanji after picking up N1.5 million, purportedly a ransom payment for an abducted victim.

During questioning, Igohia provided details about her criminal affiliations, revealing her current marriage to Voryor Gata, the leader of a violent extremist group in southern Taraba. She disclosed previous marriages to high-profile criminals such as the late Terkibi Gemaga, known as Mopol, and the late Gana Terwase, both killed during military operations. “I had previously been married to high-profile criminals such as the late Terkibi Gemaga, AKA Mopol, a notorious kidnapper who was killed by troops five years ago,” she disclosed.

In another development, troops deployed at Mararaba Baissa community in Donga Local Government Area arrested two suspected gunrunners, Alhaji Adamu Damisa, 40, and Usman Isah, 44, allegedly involved in extra-judicial killings and cattle rustling. The individuals were found in possession of N664,000, believed to be proceeds from their illicit activities, along with two Techno mobile phones.

The ongoing efforts by the Nigerian Army aim to ensure that Taraba State remains free from the influence of violent extremist groups and insurgents, safeguarding the well-being of its residents. The spokesperson emphasised, “In the ongoing operations by the 6 Brigade Nigerian Army to ensure Taraba State does not become a safe haven for violent extremist groups and insurgents, gallant troops of the 93 Battalion under the Brigade have successfully apprehended a notorious gunrunner involved in illegal dealings of arms and ammunition to criminal elements within Taraba State and other parts of the country.”

Mimi Mefo Info