Army arrest Civilian JTF Commander working with bandit terrorists

A civilian JTF Commander, Aminu Sani aka Bolo has been arrested by the army for allegedly working in collaboration with bandits.

Briefing reporters in Abuja on Thursday in Abuja, Brig.-Gen. Bernard Onyeuko, the Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, said the troops of Nigerian Army attached to the Operation THUNDER STRIKE and WHIRL PUNCH, arrested Bolo over alleged ties to bandits.

Onyeuko said he was captured by the troops after a notorious bandit was arrested December 3, 2021, at Paka community in Igabi LGA of the State.

He stated that it was the notorious bandit that revealed to troops that the head of vigilantes in Rigasa was aiding banditry in the environment.

“The general security situation in the Operation THUNDER STRIKE/WHIRL PUNCH theatres were relatively calm within the period in focus. However, a few incidents of security concern were recorded.

“In the course of the operations within the period, troops intercepted and arrested criminal elements as well as recovered arms and ammunitions.

“Notably, on 3 December 2021, troops arrested a notorious armed bandit at Paka community in Igabi LGA of Kaduna State, who revealed that the Head of vigilantes in Rigasa aids armed banditry and is involved in some attacks and kidnap incidents in the environment.

“Other incidents with significant results were recorded at; Hayin Gada and Rugan Alhaji Ori villages in Igabi LGA of Kaduna State,” the military spokesman told newsmen at the briefing.

He also disclosed that troops had held peace and security meetings with critical stakeholders as non-kinetic means of tackling insecurity.

Members of CJTF in Kaduna State had earlier on Thursday staged a protest over the arrest of Aminu Sani.

The CJTF Zone 1 Commander, Usman Abdullahi, while addressing newsmen shortly after the protest at their office in Rigasa Community of Igabi LGA, said all efforts to trace their commander proved abortive.

He said nobody told them the reason for his arrest which is why they are demanding information on his arrest.

“We believe he is in a military custody because when they picked him about 15 days ago, we made so many effort to find out his offence but we were denied access to him,” he said.

According to him, they only staged the peaceful protest to show their grievances over his arrest.

Another member of the group, Linda John, described the state commander as a straight-forward leader whose interest is to fight crime.

She appealed to the government to intervene in finding their leader and to ensure he return home to his family. (Based on Daily Trust reports)