DHQ: Troops kill 118 bandits in two weeks in Katsina

Defence Headquarters said troops of OPERATION HADARIN DAJI killed 118 bandits and arrested a total of 12 criminal elements within the last two weeks.

The DHQ said that 5 kidnapped civilians were rescued while 26 assorted arms and 194 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition were recovered within the period.

Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Benard Onyeuko stated this on Thursday at a press briefing on Armed Forces of Nigeria’s military operations held at Defence Headquarters’ new conference room.

He added that the troops held peace and security meetings with community and youth leaders and other critical stakeholders, as non-kinetic approach to addressing the security challenges in the North West Zone of the Country.

Onyeuko said one of such meetings was held at the Force Headquarters of Operation HADARIN DAJI.

Troops have continued to heighten aerial patrols across the theatre to deny bandits and other criminal elements freedom of action in the Zone.

“Within the period in focus, troops executed series of land and air operations in different locations within Operation HADARIN DAJI area of responsibility.

“These operations were executed at; Runkaand Nasarawa villages in Safana Local Government Area and Kaiga Mallammai village, all in Katsina State, where armed bandits’ and logistics suppliers, namely; Alhaji Lawal Auwalu, Ibrahim Tayo and Alhaji Dahiru Abubakar were arrested.

“Another location was Batsari town in Batsari Local Government Area where troops repelled armed bandits’ attack on the location in which troops superior firepower forced the armed elements to flee in disarray with gunshot wounds.

“Within the period in focus, several airstrikes were executed on bandits’ enclaves, which inflicted heavy casualties on the bandits. Theseincluding; a location where a bandit kingpin, Bello GudaTurji, his subordinate commander, Bello Buza and other foot soldiers operating within Sokoto and part of Zamfa State, used as camp.

“The air strikes resulted in the neutralization of scores of armed bandits, including their key leaders and foot soldiers as well as destruction of their structures, equipment, weapons and logistic supplies,” Onyeuko said.