The Armed Forces of Nigeria on Thursday said it killed several Boko Haram/Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists and bandits in its operations executed in the three Northern regions of the country.
Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche, also said its troops arrested several BHT/ISWAP terrorists and bandits and rescued 20 kidnapped people including women and children in the Northern regions.
General Enenche said that in the Northwest, troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI, on 17 September 2020 rescued eight kidnapped victims at Fankama and Sabon Layi area of Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State. the suspected bandit kidnappers, he said, were dressed in military camouflage uniforms and abandoned their victims when they encountered the troops.
In addition, troops of Operation SAHEL SANITY at Chabas rescued a truck driver, 11 women and children who were on their way to Batsari Market but were kidnapped by suspected bandits along Shimfida – Gurbi road.
The Defence Spokesperson assed that the Air Component of Operation THUNDER STRIKE killed several armed bandits and their meeting venue in air strikes executed at Kwaimbana forest area of Kaduna State while troops deployed at Forward Operations Base, Dansadau, arrested a bandit riding on a motorcycle to Dandalla, Dansadau, Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State and armed with one Pump Action rifle and three live cartridges carefully concealed in a bag.
He added: “Relatedly, two gunrunners were arrested in possession of 1,620 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition at Kudaru Hill along Kaduna-Jos Road in Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Preliminary investigation revealed that the ammunition was to be delivered to one bandit leader, at a location in Dansadau Local Government Area of Zamfara State. Equally, on 18 September 2020, troops of Forward Operations Base BURUKUSUMA patrol team killed seven armed bandits at Magira village of Zamfara State. Furthermore, on 19 September 2020, troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI in conjunction with vigilantes arrested 2 bandits with One Million, Three Hundred Thousand Naira (N1,300,000.00) at Baworaje village in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State.”
In the Northeast, General Enenche noted that a high profile BHT commander surrendered with four of his wives to own troops while one BHT fighter was arrested at Kamuya in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State along with nine other “criminals” in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State with their caches of arms and ammunition as well as equipment and motorcycles were also recovered.
He added that “troops repelled BHT/ISWAP attacks on civilians and own troops at Wajiroko in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State on 17 and 20 September 2020 and neutralized several of their fighters and recovered arms and ammunition.”
In Nigeria’s Northcentral region, Enenche stated that between 17 and 20 September 2020, troops of operation SAFE HAVEN raided suspected SARA SUKA criminals’ hideouts at Jenta Adamu, Rikkos, and Gangare Yan Doya area of Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State and “arrested 14 suspects while 12 knives, 4 daggers, 4 mobile phones, two swords, assorted charms, a large quantity of substances suspected to be Cannabis Sativa, amongst other illicit drugs were recovered.
“Troops thereafter raided another suspected drug peddlers’ hideout within Barkin Ladi area of Plateau State, where a drug dealer was arrested with a large quantity of substance suspected to be Cannabis Sativa. It is noteworthy that the suspect had been on the wanted list of security agencies. All the arrested suspects and recovered exhibits have been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further action.
He said that in the Niger Delta region, under Operation DELTA SAFE, the Nigerian Navy Ship PATHFINDER immobilized various “an illegal refining” sites at Tuma Creek, Oputumbi in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, Eleme-Tombia in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State and also “intercepted and arrested” two small sized wooden boats laden with 112 drums of products suspected to be Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) with four suspects.
In the Southwest region, Enenche stated that troops of 174 Battalion “arrested 6 suspected gunrunners in possession of 3,560 rounds of ammunition at scrap centre in Ikorodu Local Government of Lagos State. Furthermore, on 17 September 2020, troops of Operation AWATSE destroyed 350 litres of PMS stored in containers at Igbologun in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State.
“Equally, troops of 343 Artillery Regiment in conjunction with Nigeria Police Force and Department of State Service personnel arrested 8 persons with 7 single barrel guns, 2 cartridges, one knife and one Toyota Sienna vehicle at Ifon community in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State.
“For the period (17-23 September 2020), the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies were committed, resolute and determined to curtail the activities of insurgents, bandits and other criminal elements in the country. The Military High Command commends all the gallant troops of the Armed Forces and personnel of other security agencies involved in various operations across the country for their dexterity.
“Troops are further encouraged to remain resolute and decisive in securing the country. Members of the general public are requested to continue providing timely information on the activities of criminals in their various localities to the nearest military and other security agencies location for prompt action.”
