The Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig.-Gen. Bernard Onyeuko, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

Onyeuko said the troops had on Sept. 25, smashed a criminal syndicate and recovered 43 cows, six goats and eight sheep in Kurfi Local Government Area of Katsina State.

He said that two dane guns were recovered from the fleeing rustlers during the encounter, adding that the recovered animals had been handed over to their rightful owners.

Onyeuko also disclosed that the troops, deployed at Kauran Namoda in Zamfara, successfully intercepted a herd of suspected rustled cattle while the suspected rustlers fled into the bush abandoning the animals.

He added that troops continued with aggressive patrols of the general area to deny criminal elements freedom of action.

Onyeuko said the troops deployed at Nahuta in Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina on Sept. 26, arrested one Umar Bello for being in possession of two rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition during a stop and search operation.

He added one Ahmadu Rufai, suspected to be a bandits logistics supplier, was arrested on Sept. 27 with one dagger, charms, one bag of groundnut mixed with okro and four bags of millet. He is believed to be taking the products to a bandits hideout.

Onyeuko further disclosed that troops on Sept. 28, rescued two kidnapped victims in different locations, adding that they had been reunited with their families.

According to him, troops on patrol on Sept. 30, arrested a suspected drug peddler, one Yusufa Mai Unguwar Ahaska from Dorayi in Unguwar Doka village in Faskari Local Government Area.

“Items recovered from the suspect include substances suspected to be hard drugs. During preliminary investigation, the suspect confessed to selling hard drugs to bandit leaders such as Leko and others.

“Earlier on Sept. 29, in reaction to intelligent report on movement of stolen animals on trailers to unknown destination, troops swiftly established a snap check point and intercepted two trucks loaded with 55 cows and 10 sheep.

“The arrested drivers and recovered animals have been handed over to appropriate security agencies for further actions, he said.

“Similarly, on Oct. 1, troops on routine patrol along Faskari-Yankara road, arrested a suspected bandit informant named Idris Yahaya while spying on troop’s activities.

“Also on the same day, troops deployed at Maigora, arrested one suspected bandit collaborator called Buhari Adamu at Machika in Dandume Local Government Area of Katsina State.

“During preliminary interrogation, the suspect confessed to have once taken ransom fee to bandits in Madachi Forest.

“The Suspects are in custody undergoing further interrogation,” he said.

Onyeuko said the troops also rescued four kidnapped victims from Giruwa village of Dandume Local Government Area of Katsina state following artillery bombardments on suspected bandits’ location at Unguwan-Doka village on Oct. 2.

He disclosed that four of the bandits were killed while others escaped into the forest.

According to him, the vigilant troops, while conducting a stop and search operation, arrested three suspected kidnappers in Musawa Local Government Area of Katsina State.

“Items recovered from the suspects include one locally-made gun, three mobile phones and one motorcycle.

“To this end, the gallant troops of Operation SAHEL SANITY are commended for the successes so far achieved and their commitment,” he said.

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The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, said the encounter was in continuation of aggressive operation to stamp out banditry and other sundry crimes in the country.

He explained that the troops deployed at Rijana while acting on credible intelligence on the movement of some suspected bandits towards Abuja-Kaduna expressway, swiftly mobilized to the scene and laid ambush along the route.

According to him, contact was made and the gallant troops overwhelmed the bandits with superior firepower, and killed two while others escaped with gunshots wounds.

“Also, in the course of the encounter, two locally made guns were recovered.

“Currently, troops have continued to dominate the area with aggressive patrols to deny bandits freedom of action,” he said.

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The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, disclosed this while presenting the third quarter scorecard of the military operations between July 1 and Sept. 30, on Friday in Abuja.

Enenche also disclosed that the troops rescued 321 kidnapped victims, while a total of 1, 708 suspects were arrested during the quarter.

He added that a cumulative total of 9, 040, 300 litres of stolen AGO, 33, 500 litres of DPK, 37, 117 barrels of stolen crude oil and 914, 707 litres of stolen PMS were recovered across the country.

In the North West zone, the coordinator explained that a total of 3, 829 livestock, 6,830 rounds of ammunition and 93 assorted rifles were recovered from the bandits by the troops in the zone.

He added that a total of 91 kidnapped victims were rescued and 312 armed bandits were killed in action within the period under review.

“In the same vein, a total of 391 arrests were made in the zone including high profile armed bandits, gun runners and bandit’s collaborators.

“Cash of N4.8 million was recovered from the bandit’s informants in the zone during the period.

“Meanwhile, in the North-East zone, 66 kidnapped victims were rescued by the gallant troops of operation Lafiya Dole.

`Also, a total of 285 rounds of ammunition as well as 84 assorted rifles were recovered from the BHT/ISWAP fighters.

“Similarly, a total of 450 insurgents/terrorists including commanders were killed by the troops, 10 gun trucks as well as 38 grenades were recovered and a total of 53 arrests were made including high value targets,’’ he said.

In the North-Central zone, Enenche disclosed that, troops of Operations Safe Haven, Whirl Stroke and Thunder Strike, rescued 116 kidnapped victims and killed a total of 107 armed bandits including militia gang leaders.

He added that 84 assorted rifles as well as 385 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the bandits and other criminal elements in the zone during the period.

According to him, a total of 1, 136 criminals including family members of the Darul Salam sect were arrested within the period in the North-Central zone.

In the South-South zone, Enenche said the troops of Operation Delta Safe working with other security agencies, recorded tremendous successes against economic sabotage and other sundry crimes during the period.

He said the troops immobilised a total of 70 illegal refining sites, 66 dug out pits and 134 metal storage tanks within the period.

According to him, troops also, impounded a cumulative total of 26, 772 barrels of stolen crude oil from oil thieves in the zone.

“Additionally, a total of 331, 107) litres of product suspected to be stolen Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

“Troops also impounded 263 drums of stolen PMS, a total of 18 kidnapped victims were rescued while 46 arrests were made.

“Furthermore, a total of 2, 647 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled smuggled rice were impounded. Troops also arrested a total of 46 pirates, 11 trucks and recovered 10 rifles and 60 rounds of ammunition, this is in addition to 15 sea pirate camps that were destroyed,’’ he said.

In the South-West zone, Enenche said troops of Operation AWATSE impounded a total of 383, 600 litres of PMS and 10, 345 barrels of stolen crude oil during the period.

He added that a total of 150, 000 litres of stolen AGO, 3, 594 rounds of ammunition as well as 14 assorted rifles was recovered within the period.

“Also, within the period, a total of 30 kidnapped victims were rescued, 36 arrests were made and 18 illegal refining sites were immobilised.

“In the same vein, a total of five boats and five trucks engaged in illegal activities were arrested within the period,’’ he added.

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It was reported that the Operation CLEAN SWEEP is the climax of exercise HARBIN KUNAMA III, is aimed at flushing out the remnants of armed bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements from the North Western Zone of Nigeria.

The General Officer Commanding 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, told newsmen in Kaduna on Friday that the troops inflicted heavy casualties on the bandits, killing 10 of them while others escaped with gunshot wounds.

Yahaya said the bandits’ camp was also destroyed, but that five soldiers sustained injuries during the operation.

He the injured soldiers were evacuated to 44 Reference Hospital, Kaduna, to save their lives but sadly two of them paid the supreme price.

During a visit to the hospital, the GOC commiserated with the wounded soldiers and also commended the gallantry performance of the dead soldiers.

He assured that their sacrifices would not go in vain.

Yahaya said their bravery and dedication to duty was exemplary that every Nigerian soldier and indeed Nigerians should be proud of.

He promised that the soldiers would be given befitting burials after informing their families of tragic loss.

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