Soldiers kill 10, arrest 64 suspected terrorists

Soldiers of the One Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army, Kaduna, have killed no fewer than 10 suspected terrorists in various joint operations code- named, “Operation Restore Peace II” in the North- West zone of the country. Also in the operations, about 64 suspected terrorists and bandits were arrested. Those arrested had been handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution, according to the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, One Division, Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Col. Usman Abdul. The One Division spokesman also said 7,119 cattle, sheep and goats were recovered from rustlers and bandits who had been terrorising people from the zone. The zone comprises of Jigawa, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Kaduna and Kano states, while the operations extended to Niger and Kogi states in the North-Central. The operations were carried out by the combined team of the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Air Force, Police, Department of State Services as well as the Nigerian Customs, among others. Abdul stated, “In Kaduna State and its immediate environs, the expanded security outfit involved in the operation have made recovery of 2,081 animals, like cattle, sheep and goats. Twenty-seven suspects were arrested and lots of weapons of different calibres were recovered from the bandits. “In the axis of Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kebbi states, over 3,027 animals which included cattle, goats and sheep were recovered. Thirty-three suspected bandits were arrested with 11 weapons seized in the course of the operation. All the suspects were handed over to Zamfara DSS and the Police Command while the animals were handed over to the Zamfara State government officials. “In the area covering Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states, the joint operation recovered a total of 2,011 animals, with four suspects arrested. Also, 10 bandits were killed during the encounters and eight assorted weapons recovered. “The arrested suspects were handed over to the Katsina Police Command, while animals recovered were handed over to the Katsina State government officials.” He added that since the commencement of the operations, confidence has been restored to the indigenes who had since resumed their normal farming and commercial activities. Abdul noted that the army and other security agencies and the men of the state’s security outfit, code-named, “Operation Yaki” in Kaduna had through various operations been able to reduce and subdue the activities of bandits and insurgents. He however warned supporters and sympathisers of the bandits against aiding and abetting their activities as the Division was ever determined to uproot them from the zone. Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, on Thursday re-emphasised the commitment of the military to win the war against insurgents soon, insisting that the military is daily gaining more grounds against the Boko Haram insurgents. Buratai gave this assurance while receiving five vehicles presented to the Multi-National Joint Task Force by Toyota Nigeria Limited at the Maimalari Barracks, Maiduguri. He said he just returned from Gamboru-Ngala and so could tell Nigerians that the troops at the warfront were winning the battle against the insurgents. Buratai said that the MNJTF needed logistics and moral support from corporate bodies and individuals to actualise its mandates. He therefore called on all well-meaning individuals and corporate bodies to emulate Toyota Nigeria Limited. While presenting the vehicles, the Managing Director, Toyota Limited Mr. Kunle Adeojo, said the gesture was part of the company’s corporate social responsibilities. He called on other individuals and corporate organisations to assist the military in its move to rid the country of insurgency and and criminality. In his speech, the commander of the MNJTF, Maj. Gen. Iliyasu Abba, said since the task force was established it had been trying to actualise its mandate.