Troops of Operation Sahel Sanity have killed two bandits , arrested 12, and rescued several kidnapped persons in Katsina and Zamfara States in the last one week .
This was revealed by the Acting Director Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Benard Onyeuko in a statement issued to newsmen on Monday.
Onyeuku said , “ On 28 August 2020, troops deployed in Maru laid ambush on suspected bandits who attempted to invade Gobirawa village but were repelled by combined efforts of troops and local vigilante .
“ During the ambush , troops made contact with the armed bandits and engaged them with a heavy volume of firepower , neutralizing two of them in the process , while others escaped with gunshot wounds as traces of blood were seen on their withdrawal route.
“ On the same day , troops conducted a raid operation at some identified bandits ’ hideouts at Gamji Village . During the operation , six suspected bandits were apprehended while troops recovered 1 Dane Gun, 1 Motorcycle , and 2 cutlasses from the suspects .
“ Troops deployed at Zakka , acting on credible intelligence arrested three suspected armed bandits namely Sagar Garba , Hafisu Mato , and Suleiman Sada.
“ Suspects were identified by locals to be members of a syndicate terrorizing the general area . During preliminary investigation, the suspects confessed their involvement in recent cattle rustling activities at Kwaya , Sabon Birni, and Baure villages. ”
Other suspected bandits arrested by the troops include Lawali Dahiru, Bello Abdurrahman, and Zaiyanu Kaura who were identified as one of the notorious bandits terrorising the people of the North- Western Zone .
General Onyeuko further explained that all the rescued kidnapped victims were reunited with their families , concluding that “ All arrested suspects are undergoing investigation while effort is ongoing to apprehend other criminals in the general area ” .
