The Nigerian Army has revealed that the combined troops of operations Sahel Sanity, elements of 17 Brigade and sector 9 of the operation Hadarin Daji have conducted a combined aggressive clearance operations aimed at identifying bandits’ camps.
It said that during the operation, 3 bandits were killed, while over 8 were arrested.
This was disclosed by the Acting Director, Defence media operations, Brigadier- General Bernard Onyeuko at the Special Army supper camp 4, Faskari, Katsina State during a press conference.
He pointed out that one AK47 magazine loaded with 25 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and a Dane gun were recovered.
According to him, twenty six kidnapped victims were freed, while eight bandits’ dens were destroyed in the process.
“Forward Operation Base Bena in Wasagu-Danko Local Government Area of Kebbi State, in cooperation with the 223 Battalion deployed at Wasagu and Unashi rescued two kidnapped victims during the operation of identifying the bandit’s dens,” he said.
Onyeuko explained that the troops arrested a suspected drug peddler, one Mubarak Shehu at Jenegebe checkpoint in Wanke district of Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State with 20 packets of pentazocine injections concealed in his motorbike.
He said that the injections were to be delivered to bandits operating at Kungurmi axis in Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara state.
Speaking further, Onyeuko said that the preliminary investigation however revealed that the suspected drug baron is a member of the cartel that supplies hard drugs to the bandits in various forests in the north west zone.
Continuing, he said that the troops raided and destroyed bandits camps in Garin Inu, Shekewa forests, Jajaye, Kwerewa, Solar, Mallamawa and Gobirwa communities of Katsina State, recovering some items, including dane guns.
“The Operation Base Magami while responding to a distress call rescued twenty three kidnapped victims from fleeing kidnappers who abandoned their captives when the military launched a gory attack on their hideouts along Zauni-Jenegebe road in Gusau, Zamfara state capital,” he added.
