Troops Nabs Wanted N/Delta Militants, Boko Haram Terrorist

Troops Nab Wanted N/Delta Militants, Boko Haram Terrorist

The troops of 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army today arrested one Mr. Gabriel Ogbudje (an Ex-militant leader), an alleged leader of the Otugas Fire Force, a militant group threatening to attack Utorogu Gas Plant in the Niger Delta region.

Media checks revealed that the wife led soldiers to the suspect’s country home at Akperhe Community, Ughelli South Local Government Area where his septuagenarian mother, Madam Amrevweatefa Odada, was arrested along with two other young men found in the family compound.

It was gathered that the detention of the suspect's relation helped the troops to locate the suspect along with an accomplice identified as Elvis Dweller Ejus.

The Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, in a statement, alleged that Ogbudje was responsible for the recent act of economic sabotage perpetrated on NPDC/Shoreline major delivery trunk line within Ogo-Oteri general area on the August 26.

Usman said the suspected militant who was trailed, was arrested by troops along Agbor-Abraka road in Delta State on September 6, 2016.

He noted that the suspect had been on the run since he was declared wanted because of his public declaration as the leader of the militant group ‘Otugas Fire Force’.

According to him, it was the suspect who made the declaration of the threat code named ‘Crocodile Tears’, while the Brigade was engaged in the military field training exercise nicknamed ‘Operation Crocodile Smile’.

The army spokesman said Ogbudje was arrested along with his accomplice, Mr. Elvis Dweller Ejus, and were handed to Operation Delta Safe for further interrogation and subsequent handing over to the relevant security agency for prosecutions.

"Please recall also that troops of 13 Brigade of the Nigerian army in conjunction with Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Air Force and covert operatives of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) arrested a suspected kingpin of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), Isaac Romeo, who goes by the appellation of ‘G2’ in their terrorists camp.

"He was arrested along with two other persons, Mr. Lawson Samson and an elderly man, Mr. Iyang Ekpo, in Calabar, Cross River State, while driving in a vehicle with the registration number, CRS 86 AO1, on September 3, 2016. The arrest followed painstaking efforts and tracking of the militant who was in the state to perpetrate further criminal activities of sabotaging critical infrastructures. All the suspects are currently being interrogated," he stated.

In a related development, Usman stated that the Boko Haram suspect who is number 105 on the wanted list, Muhammed Bulama, was last Tuesday arrested by troops in Yobe State.

The DAPR said Bulama was arrested along side with two other suspected Boko Haram terrorists-Ardo Abba Muhammed (elder brother to Bulama as claimed) and Muhammadu Kaigama-in Azare community, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State, with the help of the local vigilantes in the town.

He revealed that the terrorists were arrested riding on a horseback and bicycle while shepherding some sheep towards market.

During preliminary investigation, Usman said the suspected terrorist personally confirmed his photograph on the wanted list and further revealed that he specialised on rearing animals for the terrorist group.

"He further confessed that they came to the village to sell the animals as they had run out of cash in their hideout and would also get some food items back to for the upcoming Salah festivity," he stated.

Meanwhile, Akperhe community in Ughelli, Delta State was agog last Tuesday following the unconditional release of four of the community indigenes arrested by soldiers in connection with the suspects.

Those released at about 1.45p.m. from custody of the Military Police at the 3 Battalion, Effurun Barracks of the Nigerian Army, included Vincent Ekeke, Henry Koko and the wife of the suspect, Rachael.

Madam Amrevweatefa Odada, the mother of Gabriel was first released last Sunday.