Hoodlums arrested by troops on Operation Python Dance in Sokoto

Troops of the Nigerian Army participating in Exercise EGWU EKE III (Python Dance) in Sokoto on while on routine patrol on Wednesday ran into a group of hoodlums causing mayhem, extorting and threatening the lives of innocent citizens along Sokoto – Gusau road.

Major CLEMENT K ABIADE, Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations who revealed this in a statement said seven of the suspects were apprehended and were being profiled.

He identified the suspects as  Auwalu Shehu  Muuritala Garba,  Jamilu Bello, Abubakar Aliyu, Musa Abubakar, Zayyanu Aliyu, Bashir Sarkinpawa.

According to him, items recovered from the alleged hoodlums to include five machetes, two knives, two catapults, two long sticks, one tyre ream, three bottles of Codeine and sizeable numbers of stones.

“Preliminary investigation is ongoing and the suspects will be handed over to the appropriate authority for prosecution on completion,” the Army spokesperson said.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen TY Buratai in 1 Battalion, Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State had on the 8 of January 2019, simultaneously activated Operation Python Dance in the North West geopolitical zone with the deployment of troops in all Divisional Areas of Operation for internal security.