By Ahmed Attahiru, Gusau
Troops of Operation Sahel Sanity of the Nigeria army, operating in the north west, have killed 38 bandits, rescued 108 kidnap victims and destroyed 10 bandits camps in Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara states.
The Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig-Gen. Bernard Onyeuko at a press conference which held at Faskari Army Super Camp on Monday, said the troops had intensified operational activities in the theatre of operation.
“Nigerian Army’s mandate is to completely rid the North West zone of the country of armed bandits, cattle rustlers, kidnappers and incessant killings of innocent citizens.
“The gallant troops has led to the degradation of the bandits and their activities to the barest minimum as indicative by the successes recorded.
“These gains are gradually bringing stability and normalcy back to the zone as evident by the massive resumption of farming and socio-economic activities,” he said.
He disclosed that the soldiers were commitment and exhibited gallantry.
“Within this period carried out series of clearance operations, ambushes, day and night patrols denying bandits and other criminal elements any respite.
“Numerous farm and highway patrols were carried out within Sokoto, Katsina, Kaduna, Kebbi and Zamfara states thus boosting the confidence of the locals as well as commuters in carrying out their daily activities without hindrance,” Onyeuko said.
According to him, the operations had led to the rescue of kidnap victims, neutralization of bandits, arrest of several informants and collaborators, recovery and return of rustled cattle to their bona-fide owners.
“A number of bandits logistics network have been smashed leading to the arrest of some of the syndicate members.
“The operations conducted between 4 September -25 October 2020, 38 armed bandits were neutralized while 93 suspected bandits logistics suppliers and collaborators were arrested.
He maintained that a total of 131 cows, 154 sheep/rams and 1 camel were recovered.
“In all the search and rescue operations carried out,108 kidnapped victims were rescued,90 bandits informants and collaborators,3 rustled cattle marketers and 12 bandits logistics suppliers were arrested.
“A total of 10 bandit’s camps and their logistics bases were destroyed by troops, Relatedly 47 bandits attacks and 31 kidnap incidents were foiled by the troops.”
