Five suspects have been arrested over their involvement in a failed attack by suspected Islamic State-allied jihadists on a military base in the Wawa, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
It was gathered that the military also killed eight of the attackers after repelling a raid on the military base, where hundreds of militants are being held.
NigeriaCrime.com learned that Dozens of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters tried to break into the Wawa military cantonment in the remote New Bussa village near the border with Benin Republic late on Saturday to free more than 1,000 of their comrades detained there.
Speaking on the incident, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, confirmed the arrest of five suspects in a failed attack by suspected Islamic State-allied jihadists on a military base in the Wawa, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
However, Irabor said that the alertness of the troops led to the prevention of the attack.
“Some of you must have seen in the media or amongst you that on the night of 29th October 2022, Wawa Cantonment in Niger State was attacked. Of course, the alertness of the troops led to the neutralisation of the attackers.
“Their vehicles that were laden with IEDs and other items were impounded, and five of those attackers were equally arrested. This is to let you know of the level of alertness of the members of the armed forces, the police, and other security agencies,” he added.
Meanwhile, troops of the Nigerian Army have neutralized seven suspected terrorists in Kaduna State.
According to the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, the troops of One Division neutralized four of the suspected terrorists during a clearance operation conducted at Maidaro, Kagi Hill, Kusharki and Anguwan Madaki in Birnin Gwari local government.
Another fighting patrol team of One Division also conducted a separate operation along Sabon Birnin-Zartake, Ungwan Lima Riyawa, and Tungan Madaki General Area, supported by the Nigerian Air Force and neutralized three suspected terrorists who were on the run from Kagi Hill.
Two AK-47 rifles with two rounds of 7.62mm special, one automatic pump action gun with three cartridges, six Dane guns, three locally fabricated pistols with one 9-mm round, and four motorcycles were recovered by the troops.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya has commended the troops for their gallantry stride and urged them not to relent until terrorism and other criminalities are brought to an end.