The Director, Army Public Relations,  Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, who addressed journalists in Abuja, on Wednesday, said the suspects were arrested during an operation jointly conducted by the Army and the Nigeria Immigration Service.

He also disclosed that no fewer than 13 criminals were killed and 88 arrested  during various operations across 20 states of the federation.

Among those arrested include 50 suspects comprising foreigners who were nabbed for alleged International job racketeering.

Onyema said, “In the South-West region, on November 2, 2023, troops of 9 Brigade Nigerian Army in conjunction with personnel of Nigerian Immigration Service, Lagos State Command, conducted a raid operation on a suspected criminal hideout at Ifako Ijaye.

“During the operation, 50 suspects, including foreigners who specialise in international job racketeering, were arrested. In a similar development same day, the same troops arrested two suspects at a hotel in Ogba in the Ikeja LGA.

“The arrest was in connection with the murder of one Mallam Idris Ardo, the Ardo of Panya Village in Plateau State. Preliminary investigation revealed that one of the arrested suspects masterminded the killing of Ardo and fled the community since the incident occurred.”

The Director, Army Public Relation, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, said in a statement, on Thursday, it was alleged that the student was shot in her apartment by the suspect now at large.

Nwachukwu said there was no place for such a barbaric act in the army, adding that the Nigerian Army had commiserated with the family of the deceased.

Nwachukwu said in the statement “The NA has taken the allegation seriously and a joint investigation has commenced, while the effort to profile and ascertain the true identity of the suspect is ongoing. The NA is a professional and disciplined organisation that will continue to uphold and respect the Fundamental Human Rights of citizens as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The NA also wishes to reaffirm that as a force with zero tolerance for any form of criminality, such allegations will not only be investigated but the culprit will be made to face the full wrath of the law”