The Nigerian Army said that its troops on counter-insurgency war and anti-banditry operations in the northeast and northwest of the country have made tremendous arrests, killed several terrorists and recovered various arms and ammunition from them.
Operations Media Coordinator, Nigerian Army, Colonel Aminu Iliyasu, who made this known, said that armed bandits, kidnappers, and other criminal groups now find it difficult to operate across the country as soldiers have stepped up their anti-banditry operations across the north-central and northwest regions of the country.
Iliyasu stated, “It could be recalled that on March 11, the gallant troops of Strong Response Area Gubio, successfully repelled a Boko Haram criminals’ attack. During the encounter, troops dealt a decisive blow on the marauding criminals, neutralised two of them and recovered AK 47 rifle.
Subsequent exploitation by the troops along the withdrawal route of the insurgents in the early hours of 12 March led to the discovery of additional five Boko Haram criminals’ shattered bodies resulting from the encounter, one burnt Boko Haram’ Gun Truck, one PKT Machine Gun, two AK 47 rifles, three AK 47 rifle magazines and 67 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition. Furthermore, on the same day, two Boko Haram terrorists, Mohammed, 21, and Liman, 35, surrendered to troops of 202 Battalion deployed at Tashan Goto in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.
“The surrendered terrorists confessed that they worked for the Nakib (a Boko Haram Captain) at Bula Umar Village. The troops recovered two AK 47 Rifles, two AK 47 rifle magazines and eight rounds of 7.62mm Special Ammunition from the surrendered terrorists. The surrendered criminals further revealed that a number of their erstwhile members were killed by troops in recent times while others are left wandering in the forest and willing to surrender to troops of the Nigerian Army as they are tired of life without meaning. They also regretted their involvement in the act of insurgency while calling on their former collaborators to also take the bold step to renounce and submit themselves to the authorities of the Nigerian Army.
“In a related development, on March 8, another Boko Haram terrorist, Zantaliye, surrendered to troops of 151 Battalion deployed at Strong Response Area Banki Junction. A preliminary investigation revealed that the surrendered terrorist belonged to the Shekau faction. He also calls on his former colleagues to tow the path of sanity and surrender themselves to troops of the Nigerian Army as their safety and security are guaranteed.
“In the North Central region, on March 9, troops responded to information from some locals confirming the presence of some bandits in the general area of Abinsi, and Angbaye Islands in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State. The troops subsequently mobilised and conducted robust clearance operations along the axis. Troops discovered and destroyed two makeshift camps where the armed bandits used to hibernate on the Islands. The raid forced the armed bandits to flee the area. Nevertheless, troops pursued the bandits until contact was broken along the River line separating Benue and Nassarawa States. In the aftermath of the encounter, troops recovered one AK 47 magazine with 22 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition.
“In the Northwest region, on March 8, troops of 8 Division on Operation MESA acting on credible information on the activities of armed herdsmen in Tara village of Sabon Birni LGA of Sokoto State, fiercely mobilised to the area, made contact with the armed herdsmen and arrested two suspects, namely; Sale, and Umar, while others fled abandoning 110 cattle. Also, the same troops conducted a successful cordon and search operation at Banji village of Bodinga LGA of Sokoto State, neutralised one notorious kidnap kingpin, Juliet. Additionally, in the early hours of March 9, Nigerian Army troops deployed in Kebe, Sokoto State while on clearance operation came in contact with some bandits at Jigawa village.
“Following the encounter, six bandits were neutralised while three Dane guns and four motorcycles were captured by the troops. In the same vein, two other motorcycles were destroyed due to troops’ high volume of fire on the criminals. Regrettably, one gallant soldier was wounded during the encounter. The wounded soldier has been evacuated to a military medical facility and is in stable condition.
“On March 9, troops of 1 Division Garrison, while on clearance operation to Maguzawa general area of Igabi LGA of Kaduna State, made contact with some bandits. Resulting from the brief encounter, one bandit was neutralised while others were believed to have fled with gunshot wounds as indicated by the trails of blood along their withdrawal route.
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“Earlier on, in the early hours of March 6, troops of 8 Division deployed at Zurmi Local Government Area of Sokoto State sprung a successful ambush against bandits at Gidan Jaja village in the same Local Government Area. In the aftermath of the encounter, one bandit was neutralised while troops captured one Rocket Propelled Gun Tube, one Rocket Propelled Gun bomb, one AK 47 Rifle, one AK 47 Rifle magazine loaded with 11 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition and one motorcycle.
“Furthermore, on March 10, following the receipt of information about armed bandits attack locals at Kawaye village in Anka LGA of Zamfara State, troops of 8 Division deployed at forwarding Operating Base Bagega swiftly mobilised to the scene and engaged the bandits forcing them to flee. As a result, troops rescued four kidnapped victims and recovered one cutlass alongside one motorcycle belonging to the bandits. Similarly, on the same March 10, troops of 1 Division Garrison vigorously pursued some suspected kidnappers and rescued from them two kidnapped victims, Miss Rukaya Bello, and her brother, Abubakar Bello. The duo was kidnapped from Mahuta village in Makarfi LGA of Kaduna State. In another development, on March 10, troops of 223 Battalion while on a brief deployment at forwarding Operations Base, Marafa in Gwandu LGA of Kebbi State neutralised one bandit while several others were believed to have escaped with gunshot wounds during a meeting engagement in the area.
“The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai, wishes to reassure the general public of the resolve of the Nigerian Army to continue to execute our constitutional mandate professionally and responsively for a better, safe and secure Nigeria. He also thanks to all well-meaning Nigerians for their continued support, goodwill, and understanding towards officers and men of the Nigerian Army”.
