Banditry: IGP Deploys 302 Special Forces To Kaduna State — Some of the special forces deployed to Kaduna state On February 17, 2021 by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu has deployed 302 Special Forces to Kaduna State as part of efforts to tackle banditry, kidnapping and other related crimes in the state.

This is as troops of the Nigerian military have killed seven bandits in Birnin Gwari local government area.

The troops under Operation Puff Adder were drawn from the Counter-Terrorism Unit, Mobile Force and Special Forces of the Nigerian police.

According to the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Umar Muri, they will be deployed to troubled areas in Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Chikun, Zango Kataf, and Igabi local government areas of the state where the menace of banditry has continued to be a nightmare for the residents.

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ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith has apologised for butchering the names of members of the Nigerian basketball team during a rant on a TV show “First Take” following the team’s win over USA on Saturday.

Smith also apologised to the Asian community for making incendiary remarks about MLB All-Star Shohei Ohtani.

“When I spoke about the Nigerian basketball team, on the very same show, I hurt people as well,” Smith said at the opening of “First Take” show on Tuesday.

“So it doesn’t matter what my opinion was, or what my intentions were.

“What matters, is that I messed up

“I intend to learn and listen to people in those communities.”

Smith on the show clearly, and seemingly purposefully, mocked the names of the players.

The American TV personality action were met with backlash and even Nigerian basketball team.

“You can lament your loss without slandering the players who gave blood and sweet to grind out a win,” NBBF said

“Put some respect to their names.”

Smith is reacting to the Nigerian team historical win over the USA which came as a surprise to many.

The American men’s team fell 90-87 to Nigeria in its first of five exhibition games before the Olympics in Tokyo.

It goes without saying that the USA was the overwhelming favourite entering the game as the number one ranked basketball team in the world.

It is only the team’s third exhibition loss since the Dream Team in 1992.

Team USA, ranked number 1 by FIBA, started the game with a lineup that included a player of Nigerian origin Bam Adebayo, Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard, Bradley Beal and Jayson Tatum.

The 22nd-ranked Nigerians, tutored by Golden State Warriors’ assistant head coach Mike Brown, had seven players currently playing in the NBA.

“In a way, I’m kind of glad it happened,” Team USA coach Gregg Popovich said after the game.

“That means nothing if we don’t learn from it. It could be the most important thing in this tournament for us.”

Nigeria had a line up that included Miami Heat guard Gabe Vincent who ended the game with 21 points.

There were 42 three-pointers in the game. 20 of those were made by the Nigerians.

“It was an exhibition and at the end of the day it doesn’t mean much in the standings,” said Mike Brown. “But it’s a good win for us. I don’t think any African team has been able to beat USA Basketball.”

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Addressing the troops ahead of their deployment, the Police boss charges them to take the battle to the doorsteps of the bandits and restore normalcy to the troubled areas.

“Being the lead security agency saddled with the responsibility of internal security of the state and country at large, the sole aim of this Operation Puff Adder is to reclaim space from criminals that are threatening our internal security order,” he said.

“The dynamic nature of crime continues to present new trends which makes it imperative that we continually evaluate strategies and then emplace new operational architecture with a view to sustaining the gains already recorded.”

Kaduna and other states in the northwest zone are no doubt facing difficult times as a result of the rising case of banditry and kidnapping in the area.

The attacks have led to the loss of lives of citizens of the zone, with thousands of people currently displaced from their homes, while in some cases, Security agents pay the supreme price in trying to battle the bandits.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai, represented by his Commissioner for internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, was also on the ground to see the troops ahead of their deployment and to also offer them some words of encouragement.

Flagging off the operation, the governor asked the troops to consolidate on the gains of Operation Puff Adder 1, by helping to restore peace in the troubled areas in Kaduna state, while assuring them of the state government support for the success of the operation.

See photos below: