Soldiers kill three bandits, arrest two herders

By Solomon Ikechukwu

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said that troops of Sectors 2 and 4 killed three armed bandits and arrested two herders responsible the the intractable farmer herders crisis in part of Benue State.

It revealed that the killing and arrest followed a credible intelligence reports on the hideout of some notorious elements who were alleged to be terrorising Abaji general area of Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State.

Coordinator Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche said this in a statement.

He said, “In continuation of aggressive clearance operation to stamp out banditry and other criminal activities in the North Central zone of the country, troops of Operation Whirl Stroke have continued to record more successes.

“Troops of Sectors 2 and 4 made contact with armed bandits around Asogo village who on sighting troops opened fire on them and thereafter fled into the surrounding bushes.

“Troops promptly returned fire thereby killing three while one locally made pistol and 11 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition were recovered”.

Gen. Enenche also disclosed that troops of Sector 3, carried out a dawn raid on the residence of some henchmen said to be behind recent clashes between herders and farmers at Atiyagiso community in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

“During the operation, troops successfully apprehended two suspects namely Mr Abdulkareem and Mohammed Sani who confessed their involvement in the crime following which they were handed over to the police for further action,” he said.

He said the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies will not relent until normalcy is restored to all troubled zones.

Gen. Enenche requested that members of the public to continue to provide credible information to the troops operating within their localities.