JTF Arests 4 Gunmen, Recover Arms And Ammunition In Kano

The Joint Security Taskforce (JTF) in Kano on Thursday said it arrested four suspected gunmen in Sharada and Hotoro areas of Kano metropolis. Similarly, arms and ammunition were recovered in Gaida Ajawa in Kumbotso Local Government Area of the state. This is contained in a statement by the JTF spokesman, Capt. Ikedichi Iweha, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano. It said the suspects were arrested during an early morning raid in a house suspected to be used as an armoury by the suspects. ''In the early hours of this morning, a combined team of the JTF personnel stormed a residence at Gaida Ajawa, along Kano western bye-pass, being used as an armoury by terrorists.'' It said items recovered included six AK 47 rifles, one FN rifle, one General Purpose Machine Gun, one pump action rifle and one PPK pistol. Others are 10 AK 47 magazines, one SMG magazine, one PPK pistol magazine, two smoke guns, 189 rounds of AK 47 ammunitions, 43 rounds of 5.56mm SMG ammunition and eight rounds of 9mm ammunition for PPK pistols. The rest are 15 hand held explosive devices (IEDs), two (25 litres) containers of liquid chemical substance, 11 bags of nitrate fertiliser, 200 empty containers of assorted beverage drinks and other materials for making IEDs. According to the statement, one of the suspects believed to be the IED manufacturing specialist for the suspects, was arrested at the Farm Centre area in Kano. It noted that increase in the activities of the terrorists in the state might be connected with the influx of terrorists fleeing from Maiduguri, Damaturu, Potiskum and other havens of the terrorists. The statement warned residents to desist from renting houses to those they did not know very well as anyone found accommodating strangers with dubious identities would be arrested and treated as accomplices. ''In the light of Easter celebrations, the JTF patrols in town have been increased and some check points introduced,'' it added. Leadership