Army Annihilates Suspected Bandits, Recover Weapons in Benue State; Assures Health Agency of Support.

Troops of 72 Special Forces Battalion while on clearance operation on 14 June 2018 encountered some suspected bandits at Kwatan Gyemu. 

Some of the bandits were killed while others escaped into the bush with gunshot wounds during the encounter. 

Four motorcycles were recovered from the bandits. 

Also at Okungbo where troops carried out cordon and search four suspected criminals were arrested. 

Items recovered include: 7 locally made rifles/revolvers, 9 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 2 handsets and some documents. 

A statement by Brig-General Texas Chukwu, Director, Army Public Relations said, “6. Similarly, troops of 222 Battalion deployed in operation LAFIYA DOLE on 14 June 2018 embarked on a recovery operation to a forest at Kawuri. 

“Items recovered include: one AK 47 rifle, 4 AK47 Magazines, 45 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, and 6 rounds of 5.56mm special ammunition. 

Preliminary investigation revealed that the rifles belong to one Mr. Abiso Ali, 37 years and Mr. Samaila, 25 years all from Suraja village who had earlier surrendered to the troops. 

Meanwhile, the Army has assured the management of Borno Health Care Development Agency of military support at all times. 

The Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division Brigadier General Abdulmalik Biu, gave the assurance while receiving a delegation from the Borno State Health Care Development Agency led by Dr. Maina Mudu in his office. 

He stated that the Division will continue to support the Agency by ensuring that all communities that were inaccessible have been reached and the children for immunized. 

The GOC added that the eradication of Polio from Nigerian is a national priority which all hands must be on deck. 

Similarly, the Commander Operation Last Hold, Major General Abbas Dikko, has assured the people of adequate protection during and after the ongoing operation.  

He made this assertion, when a team of delegates from Borno State Poliomyelitis Emergency Operation Centre and some members of International Non-governmental Organization paid him a courtesy visit in his office. 

He expressed optimism that, the ongoing operation will further consolidate on the victory already attained over Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT). 

The Commander also pointed out that, the operation Last Hold is poised to facilitate conditions for the return of governance and public institutions, resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) back to their ancestral communities and replacing conditions for farming, fishing and other economic activities to thrive.  

Earlier in his remark the leader of the delegation, Dr. Maina Mudu thanked the GOC and the Commander Operation Last Hold respectively, for their support especially in the area of security and provision of ad-hoc staff, emphasizing that it has assisted tremendously in reaching inaccessible children in the hinterland as a result of insurgency activities. 

He further called for the sustainability of the synergy between the agency and the troops of the Nigerian Army.  

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