Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) has launched a major anti-terrorism offensive against bandits and members of the in Niger state and members of the proscribed Indigeneous People’s of Biafra (IPOB) and their Eastern Security Network (ESN) leading to decimation.
Blueprint information has it that many of the AK-47 wielding bandits, who operate on motorcycles and have been terrorising and looting shops in Rafi local government area (LGA) of Niger state, were killed, just as their cache of weapons and motorcycles were seized by the DSS operartives.
This is the second major offensive by the DSS against bandits terrorising residents of the state in less than a week, having neutralised three bandits last Friday in Dogon Dawa, Mairiga LGA of the state.
Specifically, three weeks ago, in the Janyau Fulani Area in Gusau, Gusau-Kaura Namoda Road, in Zamfara state, as well as in Dalori quarters, Maiduguri, Borno state, DSS operatives apprehended notorious bandits terrorising parts of the North-east and North-west.
Speaking on the development a senior officer in one of the security agencies told our correspondent that the bandits in Niger state, who had recently attacked Uregi Village in Rafi LGA, gathered for a meeting when DSS operatives launched the attack.
The source, who spoke on condition of annonimty, noted that the DSS had kept the bandits under surveillance, even as the highly placed officer regretted that three DSS operatives were injured during the attack, but are responding to medical treatment.
Speaking further, the senior officer maintained that the improved security witnessed at Yuletide, especially in the South-east, was as a of several covet operations by the DSS; adding that the new DSS leadership deserved commendation for the increased synergy which has led to prompt intelligence sharing with the military and other security agencies.
“For instance, it might interest you to note that before Christmas, the DSS identified several IPOB (Indigeneous People’s of Biafra) and their ESN (Eastern Security Network) camps in several parts of the South-east states.
“Collaborating with the DSS, we surgically dealt with IPOB and ESN leaders who were terrorising residents of the South-east. With the DSS, we were able to clear IPOB/ESN strongholds in Orsu, Oru East, Oru West and Orlu LGA in Imo state where several AK47 weapons and IED making materials and shrines were destroyed.
“In Enugu, the DSS led the operation to clear the Imilike Agu forest in Udenu LGA where several weapons of different calibres were destroyed, and a large number of IPOB /ESN commanders neutralised. Several of such operations also took place in Abia, Anambra and Ebonyi states,” the security source said
