The Nigerian Army says it has recorded progress in the second phase of its Operation Crocodile Smile in the Niger Delta region with the arrest of bandits, including cultists, pirates and drug addicts.

A statement issuedon Fridayby the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Colonel Aminu Iliyasu indicated thaton October 13, troops of 343 Artillery Regiment carried out a robust patrol within Brass, which led to the arrest of nine suspects whoweresaid to be found to be in possession of substances suspected to be cannabis and 33 wraps of substances suspected to be heroine.

He also stated that troops of 16 Brigade Garrison on routine patrol intercepted a notorious armed robber who was alleged to have fled from the Police at Okaka Estate junction in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

“Similarly, on October 16, troops of 16 Brigade Garrison in conjunction with elements of 130 Battalion, conducted special operations that led to the arrest of one Mr. Dada at Tombia roundabout.” The Army described the suspect as “a notorious criminal terrorising the peace-loving people of Tombia and adjoining communities.”

The spokesman also disclosed that “troops in conjunction with personnel of the DSS (Department of State Security) raided a criminal hide-out where a notorious cultist, Mr. Exodus Kismet a.k.a. ‘Hot Bottle’ was arrested at Sand Road by Aritalane, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. The suspect has been on the Police wanted list owing to an allegation that he killed some people at Omoku Local Government Area of Rivers State and thereafter relocated to Bayelsa State to evade arrest.

“On October 20, troops acting on a tip-off from some patriotic citizens arrested another suspected criminal, one Mr. Aibonuwa Thompson a.k.a. Bassambri at Etiema community, who was alleged to have participated in several kidnappings and sea piracy around Nembe.

“Between9:30am and 5:00pmon Saturday, October 21, our troops occupied themselves with the relocation of 176 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), among them women and children who have been displaced by crisis from Premabiri community in Bayelsa State since 2015.

“On October 24, 2017, troops arrested a total of 30 suspected cultists between Ogbolomabiri and Nembe after a shoot-out between rival cult groups in a battle of supremacy.

“Destruction of identified militants/sea pirates camps and shrines continued along Okparatobo creek in Southern Ijaw LGA where, in one of the camps, one AK-47 Magazine, eight live rounds of 7.62mm special and one fibre speed boat mounted with a 115 HP engine were recovered while suspects fled on sighting troops approach.

“All suspects and items recovered have been handed over to relevant security agencies for possible prosecution while the operation continues.”