The Nigerian Army says it has captured a wanted terror kingpin, Husseini Usman, in Ganawuri village, Riyom LGA in Plateau and rescued several hostages.

The army, in a post on its official X on Friday, said the troops had sustained decisive and aggressive operations against the terrorists across the nation.

It said the troops also seized weapons and critical logistics used by the terrorists, thereby further tightening the noose on criminal elements hiding in the forests.

According to the army, troops stationed in Plateau on September 11, acting on reliable intelligence, apprehended the wanted terrorist kingpin, Mr Usman, who confessed to orchestrating multiple deadly attacks in Plateau.

“He confessed to have been responsible for the recent assault on Ganawuri village that claimed four innocent lives. He also admitted involvement in a local kidnapping syndicate responsible for abducting two individuals.

“Also, in a swift response to another kidnap attempt in Kyaram village, Kanam Local Government Area, the same troops successfully extricated two victims,” said the army.

In Borno, the post revealed that troops also launched a deadly ambush on terrorists attempting to transit from the Sambisa forest to the Mandara mountains in Gwoza LGA.

It added that two terrorists were eliminated after an intense shootout.

In Kaduna, the army said its troops troops stormed a terrorist hideout in Gobarawa forest in the Birnin Gwari area, forcing the criminals to flee in disarray on sighting the troops.

According to the post, the troops recovered an AK-47 rifle, 16 rounds of 7.62mm (special) ammunition, and five motorcycles abandoned by the fleeing terrorists.

“The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has commended the troops for their unwavering commitment and urged them to sustain the offensive operations to flush out terrorists and criminal elements from their enclaves,’’ it added. 

(NAN)