The Nigerian Armed Forces said on Saturday morning that its troops under Operation ACCORD in the Northwest and Northcentral parts of Nigeria killed 70 bandits in the forests of Kachia, Kaduna State.
Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche, said in a statement that troops of Operation YAKI in blocking positions for Operation ACCORD at the outskirts of Kankomi village apprehended two bandits’ logistics suppliers with some of the supplies meant for the bandits.
General Enenche, in giving details of the Kachia operation, said that “in a combined ground and air offensive on 5 June 2020, troops of Operation THUNDER STRIKE under Operation ACCORD in conjunction with troops of 312 Artillery Regiment and Local Vigilantes conducted a clearance patrol to Kachia Forest and neutralized some armed bandits/cattle rustlers.
“This followed a timely and credible information on the bandits’ movement within the area. Troops pursued the bandits through Gidan Maikeri village in Chikun LGA into the forest. Their location was identified and consequently engaged by Nigerian Air Force helicopter gunships. After the air interdiction, seventy (70) bandits were confirmed killed by human intelligence while others escaped with injuries. The troops are exploitating the forest.”
The Defence Spokesperson appealed to residents of the area to “as a matter of security concern, report those with sudden and suspicious injuries to the security forces. This is to ensure that the escapees are mopped up.”
Enenche said that the Military High Command has congratulated Operation THUNDER STRIKE, Operation YAKI and Air Component of Operation ACCORD, for their dexterity while it requested the general public “to continue to provide timely and credible information that would assist in eliminating bandits and other criminal elements in the country.”
