By Dapo Falade
Troops of the Nigerian Army, Operation SAHEL SANITY, recorded some major breakthroughs, within the last one week, in the war against banditry and terrorism as they neutralised bandits and rescued several kidnap victims at the north-west part of the country.
As contained in a statement on Monday by Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Benard Onyeuko, more suspected bandits and their collaborators were arrested in recent clearance operations.
According to the statement, on 15 August, troops deployed at Jengebe, acting on credible intelligence arrested three suspected bandit’s collaborators at Jengebe market while attempting to sell three rustled cows to unsuspecting customers.
Also, troops conducting clearance patrol along Faskari-Sheme Road intercepted some suspected bandits who, in a bid to escape, opened fire on the approaching troops.
But the resilient troops closed in on them with superior fire power, forcing the bandits to retreat in disarray with possible gunshot wounds and, in the process, abandoned their victims including two kidnapped teenage boys, Aminu Alka and Nasiru.
The two rescued teenagers have been handed over to Faskari Local Government Area Authority for onward reunion with their family.
Similarly, on 16 August, troops conducted aggressive clearance operation to some identified bandit’s enclaves in Dumburum Forest and successfully neutralised three bandits and recovered one AK 47 Rifle, 2 empty AK 47 Rifle magazines and 127 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition.
Also on the same day, troops deployed at Dandume Local Government Area of Katsina State rescued four kidnap victims from suspected bandits at Tudun Ali Village, following actionable intelligence from the area.
The feat, according to the statement, was recorded as bandits fled and abandoned the victims on arrival of troops at the village.
In the same vain, troops deployed at Bagega, while on fighting patrol, rescued three kidnap victims from suspected bandits’ captivity at Gobirawa Village and the rescued victims, Gaddafi, Sani Bello and Ya’u Abubakar were successfully reunited with their families.
In another development, troops of Operation SAHEL SANITY thwarted a criminal attempt by bandits to rustle several cattle from villagers at Yadi village in Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The troops, having received information about bandits’ activities in the area, mobilised to the village, forcing the bandits to abandon all the rustled cattles and fled. All the recovered animals were handed over to the rightful owners by the troops.
On 17 August, acting on credible information, troops arrested a suspected bandit named Dahiru Liman at Ugwan Malama Rama. Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect has been hibernating in the village following the destruction of their camps at Bakin Lamba during a clearance operation by troops in the general area.
Relatedly, on 18 August, troops conducted cordon and search operation at various suspected bandits hideouts, recovered five locally-fabricated dane guns at Unguwar Tsamiya village in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina.
The bandits were suspected to have horridly fled the hideout, therefore abandoning the weapons before the troops arrived.
0n 19 August, following credible intelligence which revealed the movement of bandits along Marehe – Danlayi – Bena axis with possible intent to rustle cattle in a village around Bena, troops mobilised and laid ambush along the route and arrested one suspected bandit, Bello Abdulrahman with a machete while two others escaped into the bush.
The suspect is currently undergoing preliminary investigation while efforts are being intensified to apprehend his fleeing accomplices.
In another development, on the same day, troops conducted a cordon and search operation in a suspected building used by bandits and recovered one locally-made Dane Gun and several charms which were abandoned in a hut at the outskirts of Tsamiya Village.
That same day, following a tip off, troops of Combat Team – 4 Operation SAHEL SANITY in the vicinity of Munhaye Village conducted cordon and search operation at a building located at the edge of the village suspected to be one of those used by bandits as a rest area.
During the search, troops recovered thrrr live rounds of 7.62mm Special, some cosmetics, several wrappers, boxes and other household items, all of which were suspected to have been looted and used for sustenance by the bandits.
On 19 August, troops deployed at Faskari conducted fighting patrol to Yar malamai village, following a tip off on sighting 6 suspected bandits within the vicinity of the village. Accordingly, four suspected bandits were apprehended by the troops and currently undergoing investigation.
The military authorities therefore commended the gallant troops of Operation SAHEL SANITY for the successes so far achieved and their commitment and further urged them not to rest on their oars.
“While the people of the North-West are once more assured of troops commitment to the safety of lives and property within the zone. They are also encouraged to continue to avail the troops with information that will assist them in the operation,” the statement added.
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