Troops of 8 Division, Nigerian Army from the “Operation Tsare Mutane” have neutralised key bandits’ leaders and dismantled several bandits’ camps around Gabiya, Bozaya and Mereri and the adjoining forests in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
Confirming the report, Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima said the areas which were heavily infested by bandits were successfully cleared by the high-spirited troops.
He said Key bandits’ leaders including Yellow Mai-Bille, Sani Meli, Dan-Katsina and Sama’ila Bakajin Bari were neutralised in the process while the main leader Nasanda narrowly escaped with fatal injuries.
Yerima said one Isan Heshi, who is a close ally of a notorious bandit called Nagala, was also neutralised in the operation.
He added that Isan Heshi was the second in command to Heshi before he joined Nagala following Heshi’s death in an earlier operation.
The Director Army Public Relations said the Division had earlier launched “Operation Tsare Mutane” following the directives of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru for the Division to stabilise the area in order to facilitate the return of socio-economic activities.
He said the General Officer Commanding (GOC) the Division, Major General Usman Yusuf launched the first phase of “Operation Tsare Mutane”, which lasted from 23 March to 2 April 2021 in Maradun LGA of Zamfara State.
Yerima added that the troops successfully neutralised 48 bandits while the bandits’ leader in the area, Jummo, sustained gunshot wound in his leg.
He said the troops rescued 18 kidnap victims from the bandits’ enclave.
Moreover, he said, eight AK-47 rifles and one G3 rifle, as well as one PKT and a Machine Gun were recovered from the bandits.
The Director Army Public Relations said 4,600 rounds of ammunition, two AK-103 rifles, eight AK-47 magazines, 1,628 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, fifty-four rounds of PKM as well as one motorcycle and five Techno mobile phones were recovered in the second phase of Operation Tsare Mutane.
The COAS has congratulated the GOC and troops of 8 Division on the gains made so far and urged them to sustain their offensive operations until Zamfara and neighbouring States were stabilised.
He further assured the GOC of his continuous support in achieving the overall objective of keeping the North West and the entire country free of terrorism, banditry and other violent crimes.
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