Army Probes Ikeja Cantonment Explosion, Says No Casualty, Situation Under Control

•Troops decimate five bandits, foil kidnap 

•Recover cache of arms, ammunition in Taraba

•Terrorists abducts 30 children in Katsina community, police rescue 28 

•Joint operatives neutralise 18 bandits in Plateau

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja, Francis Sardauna in Katsina and Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

The Nigerian Army Headquarters, yesterday, said no casualty was recorded during the explosion that occurred at the  Ikeja Cantonment.

A statement by the Spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Maj Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, said the explosion was triggered by the  burning of refuse and other inflammable debris by a farmer, who cultivated the farmland.

This came as troops of 6 Brigade Nigerian Army killed five insurgents, foiled kidnapping attempt and recovered substantial cache of arms and ammunition in Taraba State.

Unfortunately, no fewer than 30 young girls have been abducted by gunmen suspected to be terrorists in Kasai community in Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State.

But the Katsina State Police command has announced the rescue of 28 out of the 30 children abducted by the terrorists in the community.

However, the statement by the army stated that the situation was under control as the Nigerian Army Engineers Explosive  Disposal (EOD) team were in the area of the farmland to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the explosion.

“This is to notify the general public that today Monday 1 April 2024, a minor explosion occurred within the Nigerian Army (NA) Cantonment in Ikeja, Lagos. The incident occurred on a farmland near the Mammy Market within the cantonment.

“The explosion is suspected to have been triggered by the  burning of refuse and other inflammable debris by a farmer, who cultivated the farmland.

“Fortunately, no casualty was recorded in the incident. However, given that the cantonment was recently cleared and certified free of unexploded ordnances, we understand that there could be concerns among the general public as a result of the historical antecedent of explosion within the cantonment.

“The Nigerian Army, therefore, wishes to assure the public that the situation is under control as the Nigerian Army Engineers Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team has cordoned off the area of the farmland to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the explosion.

“We urge residents in the general area not to panic and assure them of their safety,” it said.

Meanwhile, troops of 6 Brigade Nigerian Army killed five insurgents, foiled kidnapping attempt and recovered substantial cache of arms and ammunition in Taraba State.

“In a significant operation aimed at maintaining peace and security in Taraba State,  troops of 6 Brigade Nigerian Army killed five violent extremists, foiled kidnapping attempts and recovered a substantial cache of arms and ammunition,” it said.

A separate army statement stated that the troops while acting on actionable intelligence on the plan of the extremists to kidnap some church members returning from church programme in Wukari along Tor-Tse and Takum Road acted decisively.

“Troops of 93 Battalion deployed in Wukari swiftly swung into action and tactically laid in wait for the violent extremists and the insurgents in the early hours of today April 2, 2024.

“The troops made contact with the extremist and engaged them in a fierce fun battle  leading to the killing of four extremists and recovery of two AK 47 Rifles, one pump action rifle and two AK 47 magazines,” it said.

Similarly, on March 27, 2024, troops while on patrol around Chanchanji Ward of Takum Local Government Area came in contact with suspected violent extremists.

“Troops responded with superior firepower leading to the killing of one extremist and recovery of one  locally fabricated FN pistol, two rounds of 9mm ammunition and one mobile phone belonging to the criminal,” it said.

Terrorists Abducts 30 Children in Katsina

No fewer than 30 young girls have been abducted by gunmen suspected to be terrorists in Kasai community in Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State.

A resident of the community, Sani Mohammed, told THISDAY in a telephone interview, yesterday, that the hostages were kidnapped at a nearby farmland while searching for firewood for domestic use on Monday.

Mohammed whose son, Adamu, was among the abductees, said the victims were ambushed by the motorcycle-riding terrorists and whisked them away to an yet-to-be identified destination.

“Yesterday (Monday) our children numbering over 30 went to our nearby farms for their usual search of firewood for cooking but they were ambushed by bandits, who were crossing the community to their hideouts.

“They (bandits) kidnapped 30 children that went to the bush in search of the firewood. We had the voices of our children screaming for help so we mobilised and went there but the bandits overpowered us.”

He explained that efforts by members of the community in collaboration with vigilantes to rescue the abducted children from their abductors were futile because the hoodlums shot sporadically in the air to scare them.

Mohammed said the hooligans marched the hostages pulled from different farmlands into their enclaves because security forces did not arrive at the scene until several hours later despite distress calls to police and Nigerian Army.

He added that Kasai was once a bustling agrarian community but now sparsely populated and roads and farmlands were often avoided because of rampant kidnappings and killings by the criminals.

But the state Police command, has announced that it already rescued 28 out of the 30 children abducted by the terrorists in the community.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Abubakar Aliyu, in a statement, said the victims were rescued unhurt by operatives of the command deployed to the scene of the incident by the state Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Musa.

“On the 1st of April, 2024, at about 1030 hrs, about 28 girls, who went to the outskirts of Kasai village, Batsari LGA, Katsina State, with intent to fetch firewood, were abducted by kidnappers.

“Upon receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police, Katsina State Police Command, CP Aliyu Abubakar Musa, psc+, swiftly deployed operatives to the scene, tasked with the unhurt rescue of the victims.

“The abductors, following the escalation of pressure and the concerted actions of the command in collaboration with all relevant security stakeholders in the state, ultimately released all the victims on the same day at about 2240hrs.”

Plateau: Joint Operatives Neutralise 18 Bandits

No fewer than 18 bandits were Monday reportedly killed and many guns recovered when security  operatives and vigilantes raided Zurak campani of Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State.

According to sources from the area, the bandits were killed alongside their informants and some traditional rulers, whom the community felt had betrayed them.

This came two weeks after bandits attacked a market in the same Zurak Campani, where they had killed seven.

A youth leader in Wase, Shapi’i Sambo, confirmed the incident, stating that the criminals were killed in a combined operation involving security  operatives and Vigilantes, who tracked the bandits to their hideout.

He explained that the bandits were attacked while holding a meeting there.

“The incident occurred around 11 am while they were holding a  meeting in the area. It was a coordinated effort by security  operatives and  vigilantes from Wase and neighboring communities of Taraba State,” he said.

Another youth leader in the Wase,  Abdullahi Usman, who also confirmed the incident, said, “The bandits gathered in one place when suddenly, the security personnel and the vigilantes stormed the area.

“They had been targeted since after the recent attack on the market in the area. Based on credible information, they were confronted at one location. Their accomplices were also tracked down and killed.”