DHQ: How troops are fighting banditry in north-west, north-central

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says its troops have continued to subdue banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities in the north-west and north-central.

Bernard Onyeuko, acting director of defence media operations, said the land and air components of operation Hadarin Daji conducted “successful simultaneous operations” at different locations in Zamfara, Katsina, Niger and Kaduna states between July 2 and July 14.

Onyeuko made this known on Thursday while speaking with journalists on the operations of the military across the country.

He said the troops conducted series of ambushes, clearance operations, as well as cordon and search operations in different locations during the period.

According to him, during each encounter, troops engaged and subdued the criminals, recovered livestock and arms and ammunition, including AK 47 rifles, locally-made pistols, dane guns and several rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.

“On July 12, based on credible and timely intelligence on the massing up of bandits around Sububu forest possibly in preparation for an attack, the air component engaged the bandits in a precision bombardment,” he said.

“Several bandits, motorcycles, camps and other equipment were destroyed which dealt a serious setback to their criminal activities in the area.

“The air component has continued to dominate the airspace with reconnaissance and in support of ground troops.”

Onyeuko said the security situation in some locations within the theatre has been considerably calm, adding that the locals have been carrying out their daily activities peacefully.

He said residents of Magami district in Gusau LGA of Zamfara on July 3 held a peaceful rally in appreciation of military operations that had ensured relative peace in their environment.

According to him, the residents said the rally is a result of the fact that they have been able to access their farmlands without harassment or attacks by bandits.

In the north-central, Onyeuko said the troops of operation Safe Haven executed several “concurrent kinetic and non-kinetic operations” in Plateau and Kaduna states during the period.

He said the troops had successfully ensured amicable settlements between farmers and herders as well as stopped herders from grazing and destroying farmlands at different locations.

He added that the troops also raided and arrested several drug peddlers and cultists at Forbur village in Jos and Shen village in Barkin Ladi areas of Plateau.

He also said troops of operation Whirl Stroke in Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa states, thwarted several criminal activities and rescued kidnapped victims while some kidnappers were arrested.