Troops of the Nigerian armed forces have successfully carried out operations resulting in the elimination of 42 bandits, terrorists, and other criminals over the past two weeks in the North Central and North West regions. The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadami, made this announcement during a news conference in Abuja on Thursday, where he discussed the ongoing efforts of the armed forces.
According to Mr Danmadami, the troops recently arrested 13 suspects in the Irekpeni community along the Lokoja-Kabba-Okene Road in Kogi State. During the operation, they also seized a mobile phone containing the numbers of four suspected ISWAP terrorists who were on the watchlist of security agencies.
In addition to these arrests, the troops apprehended seven individuals who were identified as informants and collaborators of kidnappers in Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. This successful operation was made possible by a tip-off from locals who were determined to help combat criminal activities in their community.
Within the same time frame, the armed forces arrested 86 suspected criminals and rescued nine kidnapped civilians in both the North Central and North West regions. The troops involved in Operations Hadarin Daji and other operations within the North West eliminated 38 bandits, apprehended 10 individuals, and successfully rescued 24 kidnapped civilians.
Alongside these arrests and rescue missions, the troops seized an extensive array of weapons and ammunition from the criminals. The recovered items included 20 AK47 rifles, 92 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, 894 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 2 PKT guns, 28 AK47 magazines, eight rounds of 9mm ammunition, 83 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm special ammunition, five dane guns, and three improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Furthermore, the troops recovered 19 motorcycles, 10 mobile phones, three Boafeng radios, and 34 cattle. These seizures will serve as important evidence in ongoing investigations and further aid in combating criminal activities in the region.
In their efforts to neutralize terrorist activities, the air component of the armed forces conducted air interdiction operations between June 2 and June 6. These operations targeted terrorist leader enclaves in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State. Rockets were used to target and neutralize several terrorists who posed a significant threat to the peace and security of the region.
Similarly, on June 4, the armed forces carried out air strikes in the Batsari, Danmusa, and Jibia Local Government Areas of Katsina State, as well as the Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State. The strikes were conducted based on intelligence regarding terrorists converging in these locations. As a result of these airstrikes, a substantial number of terrorists were neutralized, further weakening their ability to carry out criminal activities.
The continued efforts of the Nigerian armed forces to eliminate bandits, terrorists, and other criminals from the North Central and North West regions are commendable. These operations not only protect the lives and property of Nigerian citizens but also send a strong message to those who seek to disrupt the peace and stability of the country. The collaboration between the armed forces and local communities is crucial in the fight against criminal activities, and it is encouraging to see positive results being achieved through such partnerships.
NAN
