The Nigerian Army said troops of 1 Division, Operation Whirl Punch, have killed five bandits. The army, however, lost one soldier while two others were critically injured during a gun duel in Zamfara State.
Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 1 Division, Col. Muhammad Dole, in a statement on Thursday, said the troops responded to a distress call about a robbery along Birnin Gwari-Funtua road, pursued the robbers and ran into an ambush by suspected bandits.
Luckily, they fought their way out and overpowered the bandits, who hastily withdrew into Kwuyambana forest in Zamfara State.
According to Dole, “during the pursuit of the bandits in the forest, five bandits’ dead bodies were found. Among the eliminated bandits was a notorious bandit from Zamfara, identified as Sani Danbuzuwa.
“Regrettably, we lost one soldier and two were injured. The wounded soldiers were evacuated and they are responding to treatment in the military hospital in Kaduna.”
He added that, after a thorough search of the ambush area, one AK47 rifle, three magazines, 87 rounds of 7.62mm, one G3 rifle, four magazines and 61 rounds of 7.62mm were recovered.
He added that a wanted kidnapper and expert in negotiation for ransom, Yinusa Suleiman, from Sambuwa village, was apprehended by troops on August 14, 2018, and he is currently assisting security operatives in further investigations.
“The troops remain committed and determined to ensure security and safe passage to all commuters along highways of Kaduna-Abuja and Kaduna-Birnin Gwari roads as well as adjoining towns and villages,” he said.
