By Senator Iroegbu
The troops of 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army, have arrested a suspected saboteur of the national economy, one Mr. Gabriel Ogbudje (an ex-militant leader), who is also the alleged leader of the “Otugas Fire Force”, a militant group threatening to attack Utorogu Gas Plant.
The Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, in a statement in Wednesday, alleged that the suspect was responsible for the recent act of economic sabotage perpetrated on NPDC/Shoreline major delivery trunk line within Ogo-Oteri general area on the 26th of last month.
He said that the suspected militant, who was trailed, was arrested by troops along Agbor-Abraka road, Delta State, on Tuesday 6 September 2016.
He noted that the suspect has been on the run since he was declared wanted because of his public declaration as the leader of the militant group, “Otugas Fire Force”.
According to him, it was the suspect who made declaration of the threat code-named “Crocodile Tears”, while the Brigade was engaged in the military field training exercise nicknamed “Operation Crocodile Smile”.
The army spokesman said that Gabriel was arrested along with his accomplice, Mr. Elvis Dweller Ejus, and were handed to Operation Delta Safe for further interrogation and subsequent handing over to the relevant security agency for prosecutions.
“Please recall also that troops of 13 Brigade Nigerian Army in conjunction with Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Air Force and covert operatives of the Defence Intelligence Agency, arrested a suspected kingpin of the Niger Delta Avengers, Isaac Romeo, that goes by the appellation of “G2” in their terrorists camp.
“He was arrested along with two other persons; Mr. Lawson Samson and an elderly man, Mr. Iyang Ekpo in Calabar, Cross State while driving in a vehicle with registration number, CRS 86 AO1 on Saturday, 3rd September 2016. The arrest followed painstaking efforts and tracking of the militant who was in the state to perpetrate further criminal activities of sabotaging critical infrastructures. All the suspects are currently being interrogated,” he stated.
In a related development, Usman stated that the Boko Haram suspect on the wanted list number 105, Muhammed Bulama, was on Tuesdayarrested by troops in Yobe State.
He said that Bulama was arrested alongside two other suspected Boko Haram terrorists – Ardo Abba Muhammed (elder brother to Bulama as claimed) and Muhammadu Kaigama – in Azare community, Gujba Local Government Area (LGA) of Yobe State, with the help of the local vigilantes in the town.
He revealed that the terrorists were arrested riding on horseback and bicycle shepherding some sheep towards market.
During preliminary investigation, Usman said, the suspected terrorist personally confirmed his photograph on the wanted list and further revealed that he specialized on rearing animals for the terrorist group.
“He further confessed that they came to the village to sell the animals as they had ran out of cash in their hideout and would also get some food items back to for the upcoming Sallah festivity,” he stated.
