Troops of the operation ‘Park strike four’ of the Nigerian Army , have successfuly combed a distance of 90km from Kemanji in Kaiama local government area of Kwara state into the Kanji Lake National Park , in an operation that has also led to the arrest of not fewer than 12 suspected persons in connection with acts of terrorism.
Blueprint reports that a breakaway group of the Boko-haram insurgents known as Mahmuda had reportedly occupied the Kanji Lake National Park unleashing terrors on residents of neighbouring border communities in the Baruten and Kaiama local government areas of Kwara and Borgu Local government area of Niger state.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division, Major General Obinna Onubogu, disclosed the news of the arrest and progress made on the operation during his visit to the troops in Kwara state on Saturday.
The GOC who had recently visited the camps in Kaiama and Baruten local government areas of Kwara state , said the twelve suspects arrested were picked up by the military at various locations in its raid of the Kanji Lake National Park and the border communities.
Two of those arrested were said to be confirmed members of the arm bandit group while others are to be accomplices in the criminal act, he said.
“The counter insurgency operation code named ‘Park strike four’ is meant to among other things flush out the bandits and clear the Kanji lake national park of all criminal tendencies,” he added.
The GOC disclosed to journalists in his team that the men and officers deployed for the operation are not resting on their oars to restore sanity at the park and raise the hope of the people around the area.
He said, “Through the raid operation, the troops successfully combed a distance of at least 90kilometres from Kemanji into the Kanji forest where its firm base is currently situated.”
The GOC who said the mission is already being accomplished added that “both the men and officers have succeeded in dislodging the bandits and other criminal elements.”
After interacting with the troops, Gen Onubogu also visited the Emir of Kaiama, Alhaji Muazu Sheu Omar and the Head of Kemanji community Shao’ki, Aliyu Siki-Muhammed, where he raised the hope of the locals and boosted their morale.
It would be recalled that the COAS had given the troops one month matching order to flush out the bandits.
The 2 Division of the Nigerian Army following the orders of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Olufemi Oluyede has since deployed troops to comb the border communities in Kwara and Niger states as well as the Kanji lake forest for the wanted elements taking arms against innocent citizens of Nigeria.
