Bandits: Troops kills 58, arrest one, rescue 75 in Zamfara

THE troops of operation SHARAN DAJI, which commenced clearance operations into bandits enclaves in Zamfara State and Katsina has neutralised 58 bandits and captured one alive. The troops also destroyed 18 camps belonging to the bandits where 75 kidnapped victims were held captives.

The operation which is being conducted simultaneously on collaboration with all security agencies and local vigilante is meant between 19 January and June 2019 to achieve synergy.  The current offensive is designed to identify and destroy bandits’ camps/enclaves in the area of operation.

In a statement signed and released by the acting force information officer, Major Clement Abiade,  the statement revealed that On 20 January 2019, troops came into contact with a large gang of bandits armed with sophisticated firearms and Rocket Propelled grenades at Dumburum and Gando forests leading to fierce gun battles which lasted several hours. The bandits were forced to abandon their camps due to superior firepower during these encounters.

The statement further states that “the troops also recovered some items from the bandits which include,  5 Fabric National Rifles,  4 AK rifles, 10 locally made rifles, 1 locally fabricated pistol and 40 motorcycles. The freed captives who were mostly from local communities in Zamfara State were debriefed and reunited with their families.

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” Operation SHARAN DAJI also suffered some casualties in these encounters where two gallant soldiers and 2 members of the vigilante paid the supreme prize.

” In addition, 8 soldiers and 6 vigilantes also sustained various degrees of gunshot injuries and were immediately evacuated to Federal Medical Centre, Gusau for medical treatment, while those with life-threatening conditions were evacuated by air for specialist attention outside the theatre of operation.

“The families of the fallen heroes have been contacted accordingly, while the deceased members of the vigilante were laid to rest in Anka Cemetery according to Islamic rites,” he stated.

Meanwhile, The Force Commander, Operation SHARAN DAJI, Maj Gen SO Olabanji commiserate with families of the fallen heroes and assures them that their sacrifices will not be in vain.  He reaffirms the commitment of operation SHARAN DAJI to rid Zamfara State of all forms of banditry and criminality in line with its mandate.

He urged the general public to cooperate with troops and furnish security agencies with useful and timely information about bandits’ activities within their domain.