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Nigerian Military arrests Usman Mecheka, a Chadian accused of operating terrorists group

04/05/2014 06:38

The Defence Headquarters has said it has arrested Usman Mecheka, a Chadian, operating with a terrorists group around the Lake Chad in Maiduguri, and has been taken into custody by the Multi National Joint Task Force.

This is contained in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja and signed by Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, Director of Defence Information.

The statement said Mecheka was apprehended by the Task Force while trying to extract a ransom from herdsmen and farmers in the area, after an earlier attack on the community.

It also said troops of the Special Task Force in Plateau have also raided a camp maintained by an armed gang operating in a settlement in Shendam Local Government Area.

The statement said a gun-fabricating machine, as well as some arms and ammunition, were recovered from the hideout during the raid.

“Also recovered during the raid were local single-barrel guns, pistols, an automatic rifle, bullet pellets and a large quantity of materials for producing gun powder.

“The raid has equally yielded vital details to track down the operators of the gun-fabricating hideout who are now on the run.

“The area is also being combed in the search for similar criminal outfits,” it said.

The statement further said troops of the Special Task Force have successfully repelled an attack by a gang of cattle rustlers in Tanabu community in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau.

It said the rustlers had invaded the community after a shootout.

The statement explained that the troops had the encounter with the rustlers when they responded to a distress call from herdsmen in the area.

The encounter, according to the statement, left one of the rustlers dead while others fled when they were overpowered by the troops.

The statement added that eight persons were being interrogated after raids by troops of security agencies on joint surveillance and patrol missions in the Federal Capital Territory.

“Most of those arrested are foreigners who were picked up around Kugbo and areas adjoining the Nyanya site of the recent bombings in the FCT.

“Those confirmed to constitute a threat to security will be handed over to appropriate agencies on conclusion of the preliminary investigations for prosecution,” it said.

The statement said the Operation Restore Peace, currently being conducted in the North Central States, has maintained its operational tempo.

It said this was part of the efforts to stamp out the activities of armed gangs in the region.

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