As part of concerted efforts to checkmate the influx of terrorism in the South-west region especially in Lagos, the Anti-Terrorist Group (ATG), a counter-terrorism unit of the Nigerian Army, has arrested over 15 suspected terrorists in both Lagos and Ogun States within the last four months.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, whose Area Of Responsibility (AOR) spans both Lagos and Ogun, Major General Obi Umahi, made this disclosure yesterday at the command's headquarters, Kofo Abayomi, Victoria Island, Lagos, while briefing defence correspondents on security matters.
He also spoke on the forthcoming Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL), which celebrates the Nigerian Army and its achievements since inception as well as provide the opportunity for an annual review of their challenges, which is billed for Saturday, July 6, 2013.
It was gathered that during the raid, the ATG also recovered 14 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), 13 AK47 magazine with 30 rounds each, an AK47 rifle, three packets of explosives construction pipes, 200 8.2millimetres live ammunition and a red golf car which was the suspects operational vehicle.
Asides the efforts of the group to tackle criminality and other vices in both states, the Operation Mesa, a joint task force comprising of the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Police, Nigerian Air Force and the State Security Services, also embarked on a total of 18 operations from february till date.
According to Umahi, during the operations, a total of 1,361 persons were arrested for different illegalities and have since been handed over to the police for further investigation and possible prosecution if necessary.
Meanwhile, another unit of the NA, the Quick Response Group (QRG), has also arrested over 115 suspects comprising of 71 males and 35 females, in eight different operations.
A brain child of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Azubuike Ihejirika, the QRG was created as a troop on wheels to protect the major highways especially in the light of the series of armed robbery operation along the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway.
Umahi said, "Since the QRG was created, such incidence of armed robbery has greatly reduced tremendously because they also carry out special operations apart from the normal patrol they do along the highways.
"Some of the arrests came because they were tipped off and they acted immediately. All the suspects they arrested so far have since been handed over to the police for prosecution."
He added that the OP Mesa in its own capacity recovered two barges, one vessel, two fully loaded tankers with AGO, four empty tankers, one locally made pistol, 50 litres of PMS, large quantities of Indian hemp, one Honda Civic and the sum of N250,000.
Despite these achievement, Umahi sounded a note of warning to erring officers to step up as military disciplinary actions would be visited on any deviant no matter the rank.
To achieve this, he said the Operation Checkmate, was devised to checkmate the excesses of indisciplined service personnel that would act outside of the military regimentation and discipline.
He said, "The operation also assist the state government to enforce its new law on traffic regulation. We have effected several arrests including of our own personnel drawn from the three services of the armed forces and they were handed over to their services for internal disciplinary action."
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