Troops offset 24 bandits, arrest 64, recover 478 livestock

Troops of the Nigerian Army 1 Division and other security operatives, under Exercise Harbin Kunama III, have neutralised 24 bandits and arrested 64 other suspects.

General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division, Maj.-Gen. Faruq Yahya, who disclosed this at a press briefing in Kaduna yesterday, said the exercise launched by the Division on May 10, 2019, to checkmate activities of kidnappers, armed bandits and other criminals terrorising the northwestern part of the country recorded tremendous success.

He said that the troops during their operation rescued 120 civilians from kidnappers and recovered 478 livestock from suspected cattle rustlers.

Other valuables recovered, according to him, including AK 47 rifles, 56 assaulted arms, vehicles, cash and others.

While assuring that the Nigerian Army will do everything humanly possible to protect lives and property of residents in North West, the GOC attributed the successes recorded by the troops to maximum co-operation of residents, who had been assisting the troops with relevant information to track down criminal elements.

Yahya said: “While our operations continue to record successes, we call on individuals to avail the troops with credible and timely information instead of only reporting when the bandits and criminals must have inflicted their victims and fled.

“With the establishment of super camps for Ex Harbin Kunama III and troops deployment, our operations against bandits and other criminal elements across 1 Division Area of Responsibility has continued to record success. One of the most important achievements is the relative peace attained in the fringes and forest areas bordering Zamfara, Kebbi and Katsina states.

“Our main focus is on taking the fight to the bandits, stopping them in their campaigns and hideouts for destruction. In that regard, several bandits, kidnappers and other criminals, including their sympathisers and logistics providers, were either neutralised or apprehended across the area of responsibility.

“Similarly, several automatic weapons, including AK 47 rifles and locally-fabricated arms, as well as assorted ammunition, were recovered from criminals.

“Some kidnapped victims were also rescued and reunited with their families while some rustled cattle, vehicles, motorcycles and other valuables, including cash and grains were also destroyed or recovered.”