In continuation of the Operation Crocodile Smile II in the Niger Delta, troops of the 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Benin have destroyed three suspected militants’ camps in Edo State.
Captain Mohammed Maidawa, the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, said this in a statement on Wednesday.
Maidawa said the camps were located in Ajakurama in Ovia North East Local Government Area as well as in Obaogolo creek, off Ovia River and Ekenhuan.
He dismissed claims by one Esuene Peres that troops of the brigade invaded and sacked the Ajakurama community, describing it as malicious and unfounded.
According to him, the troops acted on a credible intelligence report about the regrouping of some militants in the community as a result of the onslaught of the operation crocodile smile.
The assistant director said on receiving the information, a cordon and search exercise was carried out in the community during which the militants’ camps were discovered alongside two buildings belonging to a suspected militant leader.
Maidawa said both the camps and the buildings were destroyed, including a shrine where the suspected militants were allegedly fortifying themselves.
He also said the troops had destroyed the camp at Obaogolo creek used by militants and suspected kidnappers as a den.
Maidawa said that various items including ammunition, military uniforms as well as charms were recovered from the camp.
He further said that seven suspects were arrested at the Ekenhuan camp during an operation carried out in conjunction with other security agencies.
He said that preliminary investigation revealed that three of the suspects confessed to being ex-militants of the undergog militant camp.
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