Army: Troops killed 26 bandits, rescued seven kidnap victims in Zamfara

The defence headquarters says troops of operation Hadarin Daji killed about 26 bandits in different locations in Zamfara state.

Benard Onyeuko, acting director, defence media operations, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, in Abuja.

Onyeuko said the troops acted on credible intelligence and killed two bandits in Bindim and Koli towns of Maru local government area of Zamfara.

He said the operation led to the recovery of 17 rounds of AK-47 ammunition and a motorcycle.

Onyeuko also said the same troops, while on patrol at Gando, rescued seven males and two females kidnapped by bandits, while 42 cows and 38 sheep were recovered.

According to him, the victims have been handed over to their families.

He said troops were currently dominating the area with patrols which, according to him, have helped to build the confidence of the locals.

Onyeoku said the troops had on March 19 responded to a distress call on the movement of bandits with rustled cattle within Gurbin Magarya, Kwari and Garin Gado villages of Jibia local government area of Katsina.

He said 24 of the bandits were killed in the encounter while 47 rifles, two locally made pistols and three dane guns were recovered.

“The public is hereby encouraged to provide credible information to the Armed Forces of Nigeria,” the statement read.

“The Nigerian military and other security agencies remain resolute to the conduct of operation towards the security of lives and properties in line with the vision of the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin.”

On Saturday, the army burnt five vehicles intercepted while conveying foodstuff, spare parts and provisions to Boko Haram insurgents in the north-east.

Speaking to journalists while supervising the burning of the vehicles along Maiduguri-Gubio road, Abdul Ibrahim, the acting GOC 7 Division, said four suspects were arrested in connection with the act.

He said the suspects and vehicles loaded with the items were arrested based on intelligence report.

“We are going to sustain our monitoring efforts until we contain such supplies that are being taken to terrorists,” Ibrahim said.

He said other suspects arrested in connection to such crimes are being investigated.

The vehicles burnt were three pickup vans and two Peugeot station wagons.