The Armed Forces of Nigeria on Thursday said 700 family members of the Darul Salam Terrorists group surrendered or captured in their hideouts and camps between Koton Karfe in Kogi State and Uttu in Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, both in Northcentral region of Nigeria.
While 410 members of the little known Darul Salam Terrorists group, surrendered to troops and other security agencies in Uttu, 290 were arrested during follow-up and mopping up operations in Koton Karfe.
Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche, told journalists that the troops also destroyed the camps and hideouts of the Darul Salam Terrorists group in the two States.
In addition, he said that troops recovered several Improvised Explosive Device making materials, six rocket launcher bombs, 10 locally made hand grenades and one Rocket Propelled Grenade bomb fuse.
General Enenche, who reviewed military operations from 27 August to 2 September 2020, said that in the military operations in the Northeast region of the country, “the gallant troops working together with other security agencies conducted several clearance operations and repelled /Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists’ attacks on own troops and civilian locations in Yobe State. The operations led to the neutralization of three BHT/ISWAP fighters and recovery of caches of arms and ammunition. In the same vein, six terrorists and armed bandits were arrested and currently being profiled for necessary action.
“Meanwhile, as the Air Task Force of Operation LAFIYA DOLE intensifies air strikes against terrorists’ targets in Borno State, some compounds housing BHT/ISWAP fighters were destroyed leading to the elimination of scores at Kaza along Gulumba Gana – Kumshe axis in Borno State on 1 September 2020.
General Enenche stated that in the Northwest region, “on 28 August 2020, troops of Operation SAHEL SANITY deployed at Mara laid ambush on suspected bandits who attempted to invade Gobirawa village but were repelled by combined effort of troops and local vigilante. During the ambush, troops made contact with the armed bandits and engaged them with superior fire power neutralizing 2 in the process while others escaped with gunshot wounds.
“Additionally, in the course of the exploitation, troops recovered one AK-47 Rifle and one Motorcycle from the fleeing bandits. In the same vein, troops deployed at Zakka acting on credible intelligence arrested 3 suspected armed bandits. Suspects were identified by locals to be members of a syndicate terrorizing the general area. During preliminary investigation, the suspects confessed to their involvements in recent cattle rustling and other criminal activities at Kwaya, Sabon Birni and Baure villages. All arrested suspects are undergoing interrogation while effort is ongoing to apprehend other criminals in the general area.”
