Troops kill 10 ‘terrorists’, arrest ‘gunrunners’ in Sokoto

Troops of the Nigerian Army under operation Hadarin Daji in the north-west have killed 10 suspected terrorists and arrested a “notorious” bandits’ leader.

In a statement on Saturday, Yagata Ibrahim, the information officer of the joint task force, operation Hadarin Daji, identified the bandits’ leader as Usman Abubakar.

Ibrahim added that the troops also apprehended three arms smugglers during the raids in Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto and Katsina states.

“In a recent clearance operation conducted on January 26, the troops cleared and destroyed terrorists’ enclaves at Pada, Matso-Matso and Yurlumu villages in Batsari local government area of Katsina state,” the statement reads.

“During the operation, seven terrorists were neutralised while others escaped with severe gunshot wounds.

“On the same day, OPHD troops in Zamfara on fighting patrol neutralised two terrorists at Getso and Ubaka villages under Maru LGA.

“The troops recovered one AK47 Fifle, one magazine, 7.62mm special ammunition and two motorcycles.

“Usman Abubakar, 35, has been terrorising Shinkafi and Zurmi LGAs, and other villages in Sokoto state.

“The troops also acted on credible intelligence on a group of notorious gunrunners with intentions to smuggle weapons into the state which led to the arrest of three suspects in Shinkafi.

“The sum of N2.5 million, one Volkswagen wagon car, and three mobile phones were recovered from the suspects.”

Ibrahim added that troops and personnel of the Department of State Security Service (DSS) also arrested one Ibrahim Atiku, a terrorist collaborator at Amawara village in Danmusa LGA of Katsina.