The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division Nigeria Army, Major General Adeniyi Oyebade Friday disclosed that in their operations focusing on an anti-cattle rustling and armed banditry within the north west zone code named Operation SHARAN DAJI, no fewer than 35 armed bandits have been killed while 38 of them have been arrested and handed over to the police in the various states of their arrest.
The GOC who made the disclosure while briefing Journalists Friday on their activities within the past 2 months which he said is aimed at ridding off the north West zone of all forms of arm banditry, cattle rustling and all forms of criminality also disclosed that 6009 various animals have equally been recovered within the zone.
Also recovered from the armed bandits the GOC said, are several AK 47 riffles, dane guns, short barrel locally made guns, machetes, bows and arrows, G3 rifles, AK 47 rifle Mags, AK 47 Bayonet, 91 rounds of 7.62mm special and 3 cartridges and N45,000.4.
In the course of the operations carried out in Kaduna, Zamfara, Niger, Kano and Katsina states, the GOC also disclosed that 49 camps of the bandits were destroyed.
He said, arrested suspects within Kaduna state were handed over to the Kaduna State police command and the animals handed over to the Kaduna State Government, while those arrested in Zamfara, Katsina and Kano States where equally handed over to their state police commands and governments accordingly.
In Niger State, the GOC said, the 31 Artillery Brigade which covers the axis are deployed as a blocking force to intercept escaping cattle rustlers and bandits while also conducting fighting patrols around Pandogari-Kusheuki Gidigori and Pandogari-Mai Kujeri roads which serves as escape routes for the bandits.
“In Kaduna State, 465 recovered animals, 16 bandits arrested, 9 bandits killed, 7 weapons recovered and 8 camps destroyed.
“In Zamfara State, 1,443 animals recovered, 19 bandits arrested, 13 bandits killed, 8 weapons recovered and 20 camps destroyed.
“In Katsina/ Kano State, 4101 animals recovered, 4 bandits arrested, 13 bandits killed, 21 assorted guns, including 3 AK 47 Rifles local weapons and bows and arrows and 10 and 11 camps destroyed in Katsina and Kano respectively,” he disclosed.
During the course of the various operations, the GOC also disclosed that one Sergeant Nansel Dangnap of 2 battalion was killed by armed bandits while 3 soldiers sustained varying degrees of injuries.
General Oyebade also disclosed that fleeing terrorists from the North East to North West are being tracked and quite a lot of them arrested while assuring that the security operatives are on top of all security situations within the zone.
He however warned organizations and groups to desist from any act capable of causing a breakdown of law and order within the zone, stressing that “under my watch any act that threatens the rule of law will not be tolerated”.
“1 Division will continue to work hard to ensure the security of lives and property within our area of responsibility to enhance socio-economic growth and development in line with the vision of Mr President,” he assured.