Anti-smuggling: Inter-agency Collaboration Yielding Results; Nigeria Tackles Gen. Tichani Of Niger Republic Over Allegation Of State Sponsored Terrorism

By Stephen Ubanna

The seed of inter-agency Collaboration sewn on the mindset of the Area Controllers of the Nigerian Customs service, NCS, interventionist Units across the country including, Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone B, Kaduna, under the close watch of Compt. Bello Ahmadou Shuaibu, in the north western geo-political region appears to be yielding results.

  The water- tight security which was said to have been provided by the military in the north western states of Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara the north central states of Kwara and Niger, particular, which share borders with Republic f Benin and Niger may have emboldened the Customs Operatives to block the illegal routes used by Bandits Group logistics suppliers.

The various military checkpoints mounted in the north western and north central geo-political regions which are within the Jurisdictions of the FOU, Zone B, may have emboldened the Command Patrol team officers to become fearless in their operations to ensure that no Contraband or small arms enters or leaves the country.

The situation which appears to have become very worrisome for the Bandits Group logistics suppliers in Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina and Niger states, as those who were said to have tried to escape the eagle eyes of the Customs officers had played into the waiting hands of the soldiers who are strategically stationed in different parts of the flashpoint states.

Bandits Group, logistics suppliers arrested by Operation Fansan Yamma operatives in Zamfara state

In spite of the fact that the FOU, Zone B, Kaduna and other Customs Interventionists Units in the north western states of Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi and Katsina and the north central states of Kwara and Niger, had at several times intercepted and seized food items including  hundreds of Jerrycan of 25 litres each, loaded with Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, popular petrol,  on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, the Operation Fansan Yamma personnel, acting on intelligence , were said to have arrested one  25-year- old  Shamsiyya Ahadu, described  as a regular logistics supplier to the Bandits Group  gangs in Zamfara state.

The suspect, who may have been succeeding over the years in making logistics supplies to the Bandits Group Gangs in their various Camps in the forest or at a designated location in Zamfara and other   north western states may have been smiling to the bank.

 The military Authorities who were said   to have received credible information about the Bandits Group logistics supplier’s movement may have taken it as an advantage to strengthen   the FOU, Zone B, Kaduna, Command checkpoints in the region in the spirit of inter-agency Collaboration and even establishing additional checkpoints in locations which are believed to be known the logistics suppliers and the Bandits Group leaders

Compt. Suaibu: Area Controller, FOU, Zone B, Kaduna, Collaborating with other sister security agencies Chiefs to deal decisively deal with smugglers

The water- tight security that was said to have been mounted by the soldiers at unknown strategic locations and  their presence at several Customs checkpoints in different parts of Zamfara state may have made the movement  of the 25-year -old Ahadu and her accomplice, one Ahmed Husaini who may have escaped the eagle eyes of the Customs Operatives in the forest  to fall into the waiting hands of the soldiers.

The Bandits Group logistics suppliers were said to have been apprehended   at a military checkpoint along the road from Kware to Badarawa in Shinkafi Local Government Area, which had a vast forest used by the various Bandits Group gangs in their operations in Zamfara state.

That much was confirmed by Abubakar Abdullahi, an Army Lieutenant Colonel, the Coordinator, Joint Media Coordinating Centre of Operation Fansan Centre, in a Statement. The Operation Fansan Yamma, spokesperson, had confirmed that 764 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition and six magazines meant to be delivered to the notorious Bandits Group, gang leader, Bello Turji, in his forest hideout IN Zamfara state  were  recovered from them.

Given an insider information, the Army Lt. Colonel, had said that the arrest of the two logistics suppliers engaged by the Turji led Bandit gang in their forest hideout in Zamfara state followed   an intelligence report regarding their movement along the road from Kware to Badarawa in the Shinkafi LGA, of the north western state of Zamfara.There are indications that if the Operation Fansan Yamma operatives had intercepted the arms and ammunition from the Bandits Group logistics suppliers, the FOU, Zone B, patrol team, who are strategically stationed in the Area would have intercepted it.

Turji: two his logistics suppliers fell into the waiting hands of Operation Fansan Yamma Troops in Zamfara state

The arrest of the two logistics suppliers to the Turji led Bandits Group gang who is currently being interrogated by the appropriate Authorities may have sent a signal to Turji and his cohorts, operating between Zamfara and Republic of Niger, that his days are numbered.

Lt. Colonel. Abdullahi, the Operation Fansan Yamma, Media Coordinator, may have spoken the mind of Gen. Christpher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, who had given the soldiers a matching order to arrest the Bandits Group gang leader, that ‘’the military remains dedicated to dismantling all terrorist networks in Zamfara state and its environsto prevent the illegal movement of arms and ammunition within its theatre of operation’’.

Given the support which the people of the north western state of Zamfara are giving  to the soldiers and other security agencies  including the FOU, Zone B, Kaduna, of the NCS, under the close watch of Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, and other Customs Interventionist Units to  do their job, may have encouraged the Army Lt. Colonel  to call  on members of the Zamfara Community ‘’ to keep providing  credible  information that could lead  to the arrest   of Turji, described in security circles as the most wanted Bandits Group gang leader  and his cohorts’’.

An appreciative Lt. Colonel Abdullahi, may have spoken the mind of other security agencies Chiefs, in Zamfara state, when he stated that the local support which they are enjoying from the people of the north western geopolitical region towards the fulfillment of the Operation Fansan Yamma mandate had been very encouraging.

Gen. Tichiani: Military Head Of State of Niger Republic, accuses Nigeria of state sponsored terrorism to escape blame of frequent terrorism attacks in Nigeria

In spite of the fact that the  Bandits Group, which had split into various  gangs with their own leaders  , operating from different  camps in their forest hideouts between Nigerian and Niger , are mostly from the neighbouring Niger,  Gen. Abduouramane Tchiani, the country’s military Leader a who had broken link with the Authority of Heads of Sates and Government of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, under the Chairmanship of President Tinubu, alongside the military Leaders of Burkina Faso and Mali, would not take it.

 He had accused Nigeria of state sponsored terrorism. The Nigerien Head of state had accused the Nigerian Government  of setting up a military Camp between Mungono and Baga, in the north eastern state of Borno  to destabilize Niger.

The Nigerien General had said that Nigerian officials were conspiring to destabilize his home country through setting training Camps for Bandits fighters in Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kebbi states. He was said to have further alleged that the Nigerian Government had provided a base for French soldiers around the Lake Chad region ostensibly to turn the heat against Nigeria.

Ribadu: NSA says Nigeria and Niger Republic, common enemy are terrorism and not each other

 Nuhu Ribadu, a former Chairman, Economic and Financial crimes Commision, EFCC, and now, the National Security Adviser, NSA, may have made the Niger Military Leader, who ought to apologise to Nigeria, for allowing his country to be used by Bandits and terrorists to wreak havoc in the country, that ‘’their common enemy is terrorism not each other’’.

  The NSA, who could not hide his feelings was said to have told Gen. Tiachi, that Nigeria and Niger Republic must work together to secure the two West African countries Communities which are currently under the siege of the Bandits and terrorists to resist external interference

Appealing to Gen. Tiachi and his henchmen, to address their grievances with France without dragging Nigeria into their disputes, stated that the Nigerian President, ‘’ prioritizes regional unity and Cooperation to foreign interference’’.

Mohammed Idris, minister of Information and National Orientation, may have made mockery of Gen. Tiachiani, the Nigerien Leader allegation against Nigeria of trying to destabilize, Niger, when he stated that ‘’the Multinational Joint Task Force, JTF, which had supported peace and military operations in several countries not only in the West African region but also in the entire African Continent which Nigeria leads  and the recent successes   that had been recorded by the  JTF, ‘’demonstrates the country’s commitment to peace and security in the region’’ to be accused of state sponsored of terrorism.

While Nigeria and Niger Republic are currently embroiled in the war of words over alleged state sponsored terrorism in the region, Vice President Kashim Shettima,  who incidentally was a former governor of Borno state, has apologized the families of the victims of the bombing in Silame Local Government Area of to state as the bomb which was targeted at  the logistic base of the Lakurawa  Group in two Communities in the Silema LGA had hit innocent  citizens who may have been used as shield by the Criminal elents.

The former Borno state governor may have exonerated the Nigerian military from any blame in the bomb that killdv the civilians in the Silame LGA, Communities , stressing that ‘’with credible information, the Nigerian AirForce Officers will maintain accuracy and precision in fishing out the terrorists from among the villagers they are staking their lives to protect’’.

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