In a major security breakthrough, the Nigerian Army has killed 21 bandits during a clearance operation in Shawu Forest at Ruwan Godiya Ward, Faskari local government area of Katsina State.
The operation, which was part of the ongoing Operation Forest Sanity III (OPFS III), was executed by troops of the 17 Brigade Strike Group.
The military offensive, launched around 8:50 a.m. on May 23, saw the troops engaging heavily armed terrorists in a fierce gun battle.
According to the Katsina State Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, the intensity of the attack forced the terrorists to flee, abandoning their camp and attempting to escape through difficult terrain, including a river.
Some of the bandits were reportedly swept away by the river while fleeing as the operation resulted in the death of 21 terrorists.
Remarkably, the military reported no casualties among its personnel.
In addition to the killing of the bandits, troops recovered a significant cache of weapons and equipment including 1 General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), 5 AK-47 rifles, a pump-action rifle, 21 AK-47 magazines, 17 Motorola communication radios, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, including 448 rounds of 7.62mm special and 64 rounds of 7.62mm NATO belted ammunition.
Other items recovered from the hoodlums include RPG-7 bombs and chargers, hand grenades, mobile phones, radio devices, jungle gear, charms, and cash amounting ₦15,260.
Also, about 40 motorcycles and an unspecified number of rustled cattle were recovered and secured by the troops.
Responding to the achievement by the Nigerian troops, Governor Dikko Radda commended the soldiers for their bravery and professionalism.
He assured the Nigerian Armed Forces of the state’s unwavering support in their mission to restore peace and security across affected communities.
“We are proud of the efforts of our troops. Their commitment to defending our people is commendable. We will continue to support all security agencies to ensure criminals have no safe haven in our state,” Governor Radda said.
The Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Nasiru Muazu, confirmed that operations were still ongoing and that the recovered items were kept in military custody for further action.
This operation marked another milestone in the state’s efforts to combat terrorism and restore peace in the region.
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