By Francis Sardauna
The Nigerian Army has said its troops of Operation Sahel Sanity, deployed to ward off banditry in the North-west, have killed 10 bandits and lost one soldier during a gun duel with the hoodlums in Garin Inu and Maigora villages of Batsari and Faskari Local Government Areas of the state.
The acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig. General Benard Onyeuko, in a statement on Tuesday in Katsina, said five bandits were neutralized in Garin Inu, while five other dead bodies of the hoodlums were later discovered along their withdrawal route in Maigora after a fierce gun duel.
He said further exploitation of Garin Inu village by the troops led to the capture of three AK-47 rifles and two AK 47 Rifle magazines loaded with 18 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition.
Francis Sardauna in Katsina
The Nigerian Army has said that troops of Operation Sahel Sanity have killed 220 bandits and rescued 642 kidnapped victims as part of efforts to restore peace and normalcy in communities hitherto captured by the hoodlums in the North-west.
The troops also destroyed 197 bandits enclaves, including the notorious Katsina Dangote triangle and nabbed 335 suspected bandits, 326 illegal miners in Kebbi, Kaduna, Niger, Zamfara and Katsina States.
The acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig-General Benard Onyeuko, said yesterday at a press conference on the activities of the troops between July 1 and December 31, 2020 in Faskari, Katsina State, that 73 AK-47 rifles, one GPMG and 194 Dane guns were also captured from the bandits.
Loses six personnel, rescues 642 from kidnappers
The army has neutralised 220 suspected bandits, but lost six of its personnel, including two officers, since Operation Sahel Sanity commenced operation in July 2020. x
According to the military, the troops also rescued 642 kidnap victims – including the 344 students of Government Science Secondary School (GSSS), Kankara – during the period under review.
Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig-Gen. Bernard Onyeuko, made this known while briefing newsmen on the activities of the operation, at the Nigeria Army Super Camp IV, Faskari, yesterday.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, launched Operation Sahel Sanity on July 6, 2020, to combat banditry and other forms of criminality in the North West as well as Niger State.
Nigerian army rescued 642 abductees in 6 months aa.com.tr - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from aa.com.tr Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Onyeuko said the operations were carried out from July 1 to December. 31, 2020.
He disclosed that 73 AK47 rifles, one GPMG and 194 Dane guns as well as 5,032 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, 568 rounds of 7.62 mm NATO ammunition and 156 live cartridges were recovered by the troops.
According to him, 197 bandit’s camps and hideouts including the notorious Dangote Triangle and several bandits’ logistics bases were destroyed by troops during the period.
“Also, 335 suspected bandits, 326 illegal miners, 147 bandits’ informants and collaborators, 14 bandits’ arms suppliers, 24 rustled cattle marketers and 46 bandits’ logistics suppliers were arrested.
“Similarly, a total of 7,761 cows, 1,867 sheep/rams and four Camels were recovered and given back to the owners by troops within the period.