Troops of the Nigerian military, have finally seized Usman Maisaje, a dreaded bandit kingpin, said to be one of the lieutenants of Kachalla Boka, a bandit leader said to be terrorising the North West part of the country, reportedly killed recently.
Maisaje, was reportedly captured alive alongside other 226 suspects by troops, who also neutralised 96 terrorists as the Nigerian Army continues to ramp up their activities with major inroads into the enemy territory to eliminate the insurgents troubling the country.
Edward Buba, Defence spokesman, who made the disclosure, said in a statement on Friday: “Maisaje, a close associate of high-profile terrorist Kachalla Boka, is providing invaluable intelligence, aiding troops in further operations.”
Buba, a Major General and Director of Defence Media Operations, Defence Headquarters (DHQ), who said the Nigerian troops eliminated 96 terrorists in total during the operations, also gave details of successes in other areas of operations.
He said the DHQ also reported significant gains in the battle against oil theft, revealing the arrest of 45 suspected oil thieves, while 60 illegal refining sites were destroyed and over 712,535 litres of stolen crude oil and 76,800 litres of illegally refined AGO, valued at approximately N712 million, recovered.
“During this period, we rescued 157 kidnap victims and confiscated 71 weapons, including 50 AK-47 rifles and various types of ammunition,” he said, adding that the troops also dismantled 60 illegal refining sites and seized an array of items, including boats, drums, and vehicles.
“The operations underscore the Nigerian military’s ongoing commitment to combating terrorism and oil theft and ensuring the safety and security of the nation. With these latest developments, the DHQ remains optimistic about the continued success of its operations against criminal activities across the country,” the statement, said.