23 cultists, 15 vandals in trouble
News & Trends •
the goc further said that the troops of the 81 division also raided some suspected pipeline vandals at ilara and imagbon areas of ikorodu to stop them from vandalising the countrys pipelines3 the nigerian army has arrested 23 suspected cultists who were conducting physical training for new recruits and initiation and involved in robbery and kidnapping3 maj.-gen. enobong udoh the general officer commanding goc 81 division of the nigerian army reported at a news conference at the 174 battalion ikorodu area of lagos on saturday3 udoh was represented by the brigade commander brig.-gen. moundhey ali3 the goc who said the suspects were arrested at different times and locations explained that the arrests were a result of intensive surveillance and intelligence report3 in continuation of the crackdown on criminal elements and cultists in and around lagos and ogun states the troops of 81 division arrested 23 suspected cultists in ikorodu area on april 163 over 50 suspected cultists from eiye confraternity were conducting physical training for new recruits initiation and planning for robbery and kidnap activities3 their arrest was preceded by a shootout between the troops of 174 battalion ikorodu and the cultists after which 23 of the suspected cultists were arrested while others escaped he said3 the goc said that two of the suspects sustained gunshot wounds adding that one of the suspected newly-recruited cultists died as a result of injuries inflicted on him during the cult initiation3 however one of our gallant soldiers while combatting the cultists sustained a gunshot wound on his left leg during the encounter and was immediately evacuated3 the soldier and the 2 wounded cultists are receiving treatment at the battalions medical reception station3 items recovered from the suspects include one locally-made double barrel pistol five live cartridges five machetes four jack knives two table knives three locally-fabricated axes with nail like edges and five mobile phones3 also recovered from them are one parcel containing substance suspected to be indian hemp. others are two atm cards eight identity cards nine passport photographs packets of condom rings and a variety of charms he said3 the army also arrested 15 other persons suspected to be pipeline vandals and recovered 31 jerry cans of refined petroleum products in the process3 the suspected vandals armed with ak-47 rifles fired sporadically and fled on sighting the troops3 during the operation sabotaged portions of the nigerian national petroleum corporation nnpc pipelines were observed in imoro creek in imagbon3 items recovered from them include one wooden boat 40 empty jerry cans each weighing 50 litres and a 1000-metre-long hose ostensibly used in siphoning products by the suspected vandals3 the recovered items were destroyed and no arrest was made udoh said3 the goc also said that seven impersonators were arrested alongside eight suspected vandals on april 17 in lagos and ogun states3 while on anti-bunkering patrol along imoro creek in ikorodu troops discovered sabotaged points along the nnpc pipeline including a loading area in the creek for siphoned products where eight suspected vandals were arrested3 items recovered from them include 10 vehicles 31 jerry cans loaded with refined products 77 empty jerry cans three coolers nine mobile phones and substances suspected to be hard drugs3 another set of 1320 empty jerry cans were also discovered and destroyed3 in addition seven suspected impostors were arrested by troops while on operation checkmate he said3 udoh expressed appreciation to the general public and particularly the people of lagos and ogun states for their continuous cooperation3 he urged them to always give timely information that would help the division in its operations3 he pledged not to relent until the area of responsibility of the division was completely rid of all forms of cultism vandalism and other violent criminal activities and elements3 the suspects are undergoing preliminary investigation after which they will be handed over to the appropriate security agencies for further investigations and prosecution he said. nan3

23 cultists, 15 vandals in trouble
News & Trends •
the goc further said that the troops of the 81 division also raided some suspected pipeline vandals at ilara and imagbon areas of ikorodu to stop them from vandalising the countrys pipelines3 the nigerian army has arrested 23 suspected cultists who were conducting physical training for new recruits and initiation and involved in robbery and kidnapping3 maj.-gen. enobong udoh the general officer commanding goc 81 division of the nigerian army reported at a news conference at the 174 battalion ikorodu area of lagos on saturday3 udoh was represented by the brigade commander brig.-gen. moundhey ali3 the goc who said the suspects were arrested at different times and locations explained that the arrests were a result of intensive surveillance and intelligence report3 in continuation of the crackdown on criminal elements and cultists in and around lagos and ogun states the troops of 81 division arrested 23 suspected cultists in ikorodu area on april 163 over 50 suspected cultists from eiye confraternity were conducting physical training for new recruits initiation and planning for robbery and kidnap activities3 their arrest was preceded by a shootout between the troops of 174 battalion ikorodu and the cultists after which 23 of the suspected cultists were arrested while others escaped he said3 the goc said that two of the suspects sustained gunshot wounds adding that one of the suspected newly-recruited cultists died as a result of injuries inflicted on him during the cult initiation3 however one of our gallant soldiers while combatting the cultists sustained a gunshot wound on his left leg during the encounter and was immediately evacuated3 the soldier and the 2 wounded cultists are receiving treatment at the battalions medical reception station3 items recovered from the suspects include one locally-made double barrel pistol five live cartridges five machetes four jack knives two table knives three locally-fabricated axes with nail like edges and five mobile phones3 also recovered from them are one parcel containing substance suspected to be indian hemp. others are two atm cards eight identity cards nine passport photographs packets of condom rings and a variety of charms he said3 the army also arrested 15 other persons suspected to be pipeline vandals and recovered 31 jerry cans of refined petroleum products in the process3 the suspected vandals armed with ak-47 rifles fired sporadically and fled on sighting the troops3 during the operation sabotaged portions of the nigerian national petroleum corporation nnpc pipelines were observed in imoro creek in imagbon3 items recovered from them include one wooden boat 40 empty jerry cans each weighing 50 litres and a 1000-metre-long hose ostensibly used in siphoning products by the suspected vandals3 the recovered items were destroyed and no arrest was made udoh said3 the goc also said that seven impersonators were arrested alongside eight suspected vandals on april 17 in lagos and ogun states3 while on anti-bunkering patrol along imoro creek in ikorodu troops discovered sabotaged points along the nnpc pipeline including a loading area in the creek for siphoned products where eight suspected vandals were arrested3 items recovered from them include 10 vehicles 31 jerry cans loaded with refined products 77 empty jerry cans three coolers nine mobile phones and substances suspected to be hard drugs3 another set of 1320 empty jerry cans were also discovered and destroyed3 in addition seven suspected impostors were arrested by troops while on operation checkmate he said3 udoh expressed appreciation to the general public and particularly the people of lagos and ogun states for their continuous cooperation3 he urged them to always give timely information that would help the division in its operations3 he pledged not to relent until the area of responsibility of the division was completely rid of all forms of cultism vandalism and other violent criminal activities and elements3 the suspects are undergoing preliminary investigation after which they will be handed over to the appropriate security agencies for further investigations and prosecution he said. nan3

23 cultists, 15 vandals in trouble
News & Trends •
the goc further said that the troops of the 81 division also raided some suspected pipeline vandals at ilara and imagbon areas of ikorodu to stop them from vandalising the countrys pipelines3 the nigerian army has arrested 23 suspected cultists who were conducting physical training for new recruits and initiation and involved in robbery and kidnapping3 maj.-gen. enobong udoh the general officer commanding goc 81 division of the nigerian army reported at a news conference at the 174 battalion ikorodu area of lagos on saturday3 udoh was represented by the brigade commander brig.-gen. moundhey ali3 the goc who said the suspects were arrested at different times and locations explained that the arrests were a result of intensive surveillance and intelligence report3 in continuation of the crackdown on criminal elements and cultists in and around lagos and ogun states the troops of 81 division arrested 23 suspected cultists in ikorodu area on april 163 over 50 suspected cultists from eiye confraternity were conducting physical training for new recruits initiation and planning for robbery and kidnap activities3 their arrest was preceded by a shootout between the troops of 174 battalion ikorodu and the cultists after which 23 of the suspected cultists were arrested while others escaped he said3 the goc said that two of the suspects sustained gunshot wounds adding that one of the suspected newly-recruited cultists died as a result of injuries inflicted on him during the cult initiation3 however one of our gallant soldiers while combatting the cultists sustained a gunshot wound on his left leg during the encounter and was immediately evacuated3 the soldier and the 2 wounded cultists are receiving treatment at the battalions medical reception station3 items recovered from the suspects include one locally-made double barrel pistol five live cartridges five machetes four jack knives two table knives three locally-fabricated axes with nail like edges and five mobile phones3 also recovered from them are one parcel containing substance suspected to be indian hemp. others are two atm cards eight identity cards nine passport photographs packets of condom rings and a variety of charms he said3 the army also arrested 15 other persons suspected to be pipeline vandals and recovered 31 jerry cans of refined petroleum products in the process3 the suspected vandals armed with ak-47 rifles fired sporadically and fled on sighting the troops3 during the operation sabotaged portions of the nigerian national petroleum corporation nnpc pipelines were observed in imoro creek in imagbon3 items recovered from them include one wooden boat 40 empty jerry cans each weighing 50 litres and a 1000-metre-long hose ostensibly used in siphoning products by the suspected vandals3 the recovered items were destroyed and no arrest was made udoh said3 the goc also said that seven impersonators were arrested alongside eight suspected vandals on april 17 in lagos and ogun states3 while on anti-bunkering patrol along imoro creek in ikorodu troops discovered sabotaged points along the nnpc pipeline including a loading area in the creek for siphoned products where eight suspected vandals were arrested3 items recovered from them include 10 vehicles 31 jerry cans loaded with refined products 77 empty jerry cans three coolers nine mobile phones and substances suspected to be hard drugs3 another set of 1320 empty jerry cans were also discovered and destroyed3 in addition seven suspected impostors were arrested by troops while on operation checkmate he said3 udoh expressed appreciation to the general public and particularly the people of lagos and ogun states for their continuous cooperation3 he urged them to always give timely information that would help the division in its operations3 he pledged not to relent until the area of responsibility of the division was completely rid of all forms of cultism vandalism and other violent criminal activities and elements3 the suspects are undergoing preliminary investigation after which they will be handed over to the appropriate security agencies for further investigations and prosecution he said. nan3