Troops kill 31 terrorists in North East, neutralise bandits near Kaduna-Abuja road
[FILES] Bandits
Defence Headquarters, yesterday, said troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) killed no fewer than 31 Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists and arrested 70 and their allies.
Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-General Musa Danmadami, said in Abuja at the bi-weekly briefing on the operations of armed forces that the breakthrough was recorded in the last two weeks.
He added that out of the 70 arrested in the Northeast, 60 were logistics suppliers conveying grains, ammunition and fuel, among others.
The DMO director said the troops also rescued two civilian hostages while a total of 366 terrorists and their families surrendered during the period.
He said that troops, on October 11, out-manoeuvred terrorists’ ambush in Bama and Ngala areas of Borno, killing 18 terrorists and recovering arms.
He added that 17 terrorists were neutralised while one GPMG, five AK-47 rifles, one M21 rifle and 11 motorcycles were recovered.
“Troops of Operation HADIN KAI theatre of operation in the North East zone of the country have continued to sustain and dominate their area of responsibilities as various operational activities were conducted in villages and towns in Bama, Gwoza, Gubio, Kaga, Kukawa, Ngala, Molai councils, all in Borno State. Operational activities were also conducted in villages and towns in Bade and Gujuba councils of Yobe State.”
Similarly, troops of Nigerian Army, Operation Whirl Punch, neutralised bandits in a location, off the Kaduna-Abuja road.
Kaduna State Commissioner For Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, who made this known in a statement, did not specify the number of terrorists neutralised.
Aruwan said: “In a fierce battle, the troops overpowered bandits and destroyed their hideouts. Troops are still combing the area at the time of this update, while the corpses of two neutralised bandits have been recovered.
“The following items were also recovered one AK-47 rifle, two magazines carrying 38 rounds of ammunition and one cell phone.
“There are strong indications that some bandits escaped with life-threatening injuries and might be seeking medical assistance in the area. To this end, locals are warned to refrain from rendering any assistance to questionable elements and should instead report such matters to the following numbers: 09034000060 and 08170189999.”
The commissioner also said troops of Operation Forest Sanity responded to reports of an attack around Dende-Buruku Junction along the Damba-Dende-Buruku Road, Chikun Council, forcing the bandits to flee.
MEANWHILE, the Senator representing Benue North East Senatorial District, Gabriel Suswam, has condemned an attack on Gbeji by gunmen.
In a statement by the senator’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Bede Bartholomew, the former Benue State governor described the attack as “condemnable”.
The statement reads in part: “Mid-afternoon, yesterday, and after an exhaustive budget defence session and series of meetings at the National Assembly, Senator Gabriel Suswam received disturbing news of an early morning bloody attack on Gbeji community by persons suspected to be Fulani herdsmen again!
“The caller had informed Senator that at that moment, 50 dead bodies had been recovered and two more in police uniforms, while the search continues, injured victims are being evacuated to hospitals.”
The senator, who is only recovering from shock suffered over a similar attack a few weeks ago at Mchia and Tse-Mou in Logo council, said he was devastated by the news.
