Troops of the Nigerian Army have killed 21 bandits during a clearance operation in Shawu Forest, Ruwan Godiya Ward of Faskari local government area of Katsina State.
The offensive, which was part of the ongoing “Operation Forest Sanity III” (OPFS III), was executed by troops of the 17 Brigade Strike Group.
Elsewhere in Taraba State, gunmen suspected to be herdsmen have killed over 30 people in Munga Lalau, Munga Doso villages of Karim-Lamido local government area.
In the Katsina military onslaught launched around 8:50 a.m. on Friday, the troops engaged 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 terrains, including a river. Some of the bandits were reportedly swept away by the river while fleeing.
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. Items seized include one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), five 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 include RPG-7 bombs and chargers, hand grenades, mobile phones, radio devices, jungle gear, charms and ₦15,260 cash.
Furthermore, approximately 40 motorcycles and an unspecified number of rustled cattle were recovered and secured by the troops.
In response, Governor Dikko Umaru Radda commended the soldiers for their bravery and professionalism.
He assured the armed forces of the state’s unwavering support for 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 for internal security and home affairs, Dr. Nasiru Muazu, said operations were still ongoing and that the recovered items were in military custody for further action.
Barely 28 hours after the conclusion of the Taraba International Investment Summit (TARAVEST) held in Jalingo, herdsmen on Friday launched fresh attacks in Munga Lalau, Munga Doso villages of Karim-Lamido LGA of the state, killing over 30 persons.
The attackers also injured several others while hundreds of the villagers have fled their homes.
Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas had on May 19 summoned a security meeting, urging all worrying factions to shelve their swords and return to their various communities to continue with their farming activities.
Herders had a few weeks ago attacked the same villages in Karim-Lamido where 15 people were killed.
Revealing the wave of the coordinated attacks, the chairman, Munga Youth Forum, Mr. Suleiman Joel, told our correspondent that the herders who had been in conflict with the communities over grazing land stormed the villages on motorcycles with sophisticated weapons, killing people indiscriminately.
“We issued a press statement and it was published in some national dailies, we called on the governor to take an on-spot assessment to see things himself here in Karim-Lamido, the governor held a meeting with our stakeholders and urged those who were on the run to return to their places.
“Now, those who returned on the governor’s directive have been killed, we left everything and focused on the Investment Summit, tell me any investor that can come and invest in a pool of blood,” one of the youths from Munga said.
Meanwhile, Governor Agbu Kefas has in a press statement signed by his special adviser on media and digital communication, Hon. Emmanuel Bello condemned the killings and consoled families that lost their loved once, properties and displaced in the crisis.
