Air Force nabs 10 suspected thugs

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has arrested and paraded 10 suspected thugs and bandits.

This followed a directive from the Defence Headquarters to the armed forces to carry out Operation SAFE CONDUCT to ensure a peaceful and conducive atmosphere during the general election.

Parading the suspects and items recovered from them at the Air Force Training Command (ATC) yesterday, the Commander, 453 Base Services Group NAF Kaduna, Air Commodore Idi Sani, said: “In the course of performing its duties, a patrol team from the Command Base Services Group, NAF Kaduna, at about 2:45am on February 16 intercepted seven suspected thugs/bandits armed with dangerous weapons around the Hajj Camp, Mando.”

The suspects were identified as Abdullahi Adam, Halilu Rilwan, Lawal Hassan, Idris Yusuf, Kabir Muhammed, Badamasi Alhassan and Idris Abukabar.

Items recovered from them include eight Dane guns, three cutlasses and Volkswagen Golf 3 car without number plate.

Sani said: “In a related development, around NECO junction, Mando on February 16, at about 2:30am, Mr. Abdulrauf Yusuf, aka Gorilla Fighter, was arrested in company of Mr. Muhammad Bello in a Volkswagen Golf 3 car with registration number EG 181 ABS ABUJA.

“Another suspect, Mr. Shehu Yahaya, was arrested at Amana Kasuwa on February 15 at about 11:45pm with five machetes and a knife.

“On February 2, the NAF Special Operations Team tasked with dealing with kidnapping, cattle rustling and armed banditry, intercepted a group of cattle rustlers at Riyawa Forest.”

He said the rustlers fled the scene, abandoning 44 cows and 13 rams, adding that the suspects and items recovered had been handed over to the police.