Not less than 30 bandits were neutralized by troops in the course of operations in North West and North East zones of Nigeria in the last two weeks, the Defence Headquarters says.
Brigadier General Benard Onyeuko, the Acting Director Defence Media Operation made this disclosure in Abuja on Thursday during a media briefing on the operations of the armed forces between 16 and 28 July 2021,
He said 70 kidnapped victims were rescued by troops as the Armed Forces of Nigeria “continued to maintain increased vigour and aggressive posture throughout all its operations in the various theatres,”
He said that during the period 53 insurgents and criminals were arrested by troops during operations in North West and North East zones of the country .
The troops during the operations recovered a total of seven AK-47 rifles from the insurgents and bandits. Other items recovered by the troops include 223 rustled livestock, one general purpose machine gun , 50 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition, a belt containing 296 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition.
Other items recovered are 12 assorted rifles, a truck load of stolen railway tracks and sleeper, two Dane guns and two locally fabricated rifles.
Brigadier General Onyeuko said the operational engagements of Operation HADARIN DAJI within the period in focus include clearance, search and rescue as well as extensive air operations that dominated the airspace and provided close air support for ground troops.
According to him these operations were conducted concurrently in different locations of the North West Zone adding that within the period, “own troops responded to distress calls of victims of bandits and armed militia groups’ attacks on civilians at Hanutaru and Dansadau villages in Maru LGA of Zamfara State; along Gusau – Sokoto Road.
” Troops also carried out rescue operations within the period at Bakori LGA of Katsina State; Eldabala village in Tangaza LGA and along Lamba Bakura – Dogo Karfe Road in Sokoto State.”
“A total of 7 AK-47 rifles, 6 motorcycles, assorted military and police uniforms, 6 vehicles and 4 machetes among other items were recovered within the period. Also, a total of 24 criminal elements were intercepted and arrested, including 16 bandits’ informants/collaborators and an impostor by name Faisal Saidu who paraded himself as Lance Corporal Saidu Abubakar.
The Acting Director Media Operation also disclosed that within the period, troops of Operation HADIN KAI conducted several land and air operations at different locations of the theatre.
The operations include robust clearance, ambush and road piquet operations as well as comprehensive air patrols to that dominated the general area and neutralize terrorists as well as frustrate other criminal elements.
According to him, “cumulatively, the operations led to the neutralization of 16 BHT/ISWAPs as well as arrest of 29 of them, while 40 civilians were rescued. BHT and their families 5 female Adults and 12 children were arrested at FOB Mayanti and Darajamel on 15 Jul.
On it’s part,troops under OPERATION SAFE HAVENconducted several kinetic and non-kinetic operations concurrently at various locations in Plateau, Bauchi and Kaduna States.
The troops responded to distress calls of armed bandits’ attacks on civilians, incidents of kidnap, armed robbery and farmland destructions by herders’ cattle.
It operations were conducted at Ungwan Jabba, Ungwan Rohogo village in Zangon Kataf LGA of Kaduna State; Rafiki village in Bassa LGA as well as Kerang and Panyam villages in Mangu LGA of Plateau State.
Other locations were recorded are Penjum and Magamiya villages in Zango Kataf LGA of Kaduna State, Godogodo District; Kafanchan Town and Kyayya village, all in Jama’a LGA as well as Numbu village in Sanga LGA, Kaduna State.