By Linus Aleke
The Military High Command, Thursday said, the combined air and artillery bombardment of bandits, kidnappers and criminal hideouts within North Central and Northwest zones, in the last two weeks, have resulted to the killing of 95 bandits, kidnappers and criminals, as well as the arrest of no fewer than 61, within the period.
The military further disclosed that two notorious bandit commanders were killed during the air and artillery bombardment of the criminal enclaves in the zones.
The Director, of Defence Media Operations, Major General Musa Danmadami, said this during the biweekly briefing in Abuja.
He said, this success was recorded by the combined troops of Operations Safe Haven, Hadarin Daji, Whirl Stroke, Restore Sanity, and Whirl Punch, as well as the air component of the Operations, in the said area of responsibilities.
He said, the troops in the North Central Zone of the country have continued to sustain operational activities through the conduct of fighting patrols, clearance and raid operations.
“On 11 October 2022, Operation Safe Haven troops conducted raid operations in an area suspected to be a criminal black spot where criminals converge to plan their nefarious act at Ganan Daji village in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State. During the operation, troops arrested 8 suspects with 5 locally fabricated pistols. Also, on 15 October 22, troops arrested 3 notorious kidnappers and armed robbers who confessed to belonging to a notorious gang that terrorized part of Plateau, Bauchi and Kaduna States,” he said.
He said, within the weeks in review, troops neutralized 7 criminals, arrested 40 suspected criminals, and rescued 28 civilians.
Major General Danmadami, said, between 7 to 19 October 2022, troops of operation Whirl Stroke conducted fighting patrols, raids and clearance operations at Logo and Guma Local Government Areas of Benue State.
During the operations, he said, troops arrested 3 suspected bandits who were foot soldiers of a notorious bandit kingpin by the name Osukpe, on the wanted lists of troops at the Sankara general area in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.
According to him, “Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke, during the weeks in focus arrested 5 terrorists, neutralized 1 terrorist, rescued 2 civilians and recovered one AK 47 rifle.
On 7 October 2022, he said troops of Operation Restore Sanity at Kwaita village in Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory based on intelligence arrested 2 suspected informants and bandits collaborators who are significant suppliers of Premium Motor Spirit and other sundry items to bandits in the general area.
In Northwest, he said,
the land and air components of Operation Hadarin Daji sustained efforts to rid the joint operation area of terrorism.
“Notable on 15 October 22, 2 notorious bandits responsible for a series of kidnapping and robbery incidents as well as terrorist activities in Zamfara and part of Katsina State in the past, named Kabiru Mania and Abubakar and some foot soldiers surrendered to their own troops at Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
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He disclosed that on 18 October 2022, troops raided a notorious bandits leader camp at Gando forest in Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
During the encounter, he added, troops engaged the bandits with fire forcing the bandits to flee due to the superior firepower of their own troops.
“Consequently, during the operations, troops neutralized a total of 10 terrorists, arrested 7 suspected terrorist collaborators, recovered 2 AK47 rifles, 10 rounds of 7.62mm special, 6 motorcycles and 1 boyfriend radio, while 32 civilians were rescued. Relatedly, the air component of Operation Hadarin Daji sustained its onslaught against terrorists in the North West Region. Accordingly, an air interdiction operation was carried out on a terrorist enclave, Maudi Maudi, at Tsora hill in Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State on 11 October 2022, feedback revealed that over 14 terrorists were neutralized in the air bombardment while others survived the strike with injuries. Equally, on 14 October 22, following intelligence of bandits plan to converge at the residence of a notorious bandits leader Lawali Gudau AKA Dogo Damina for a ceremony at Koli village, in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State, the air component of Operation Hadarin Daji equally conducted air bombardment at the terrorist leader enclave and neutralized over 30 terrorists as well as destroying their amoury in the strike,” he said.
Another air strike, he said, led to the neutralization of a notorious terrorist kingpin known as Ali Dogo (AKA Yellow) alongside 30 of his fighters while they were having a meeting at a building.
