11 Armed Bandits killed in Zamfara; As troops capture 2 gun trucks, kill Boko Haram Spy in Clearance attacks.

 11 Armed Bandits killed in Zamfara; As troops capture 2 gun trucks, kill Boko Haram Spy in Clearance attacks.


The Army said on Sunday that its troops involved in live field training exercise code named “Exercise Harbin Kunama”, to mark the 2016 NADCEL,  have intensified patrol of the various forests in Zamfara State and killed 11 armed bandits and cattle rustlers in several clearance operations.

 

A statement from Army headquarters explaining the operations said, “Troops of 223 Battalion while on patrol encountered armed bandits at Madaka village, Maru Local Government Area in which they killed 9 armed bandits and recovered 3 AK-47 rifles, 2 AK-47 rifles magazine, 3 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, 1 machete and 24 motorcycles.

 

“Similarly, local vigilantes at ‘Yargada village, Gusau Local Government Area apprehended a fleeing suspected armed bandit and handed him over to troops deployed at Magami.

 

“In a related development, troops have also raided a bandit camp at Gangamai village in Dansadau Local Government Area. During the raid there was an exchange of fire between the troops and the armed bandits.

 

“Unfortunately, the bandits escaped with gunshot wounds. However, the troops recovered 2 Dane Guns bags containing marijuana (aka Indian hemp).

 

“Another team also carried out raid on cattle rustlers and armed bandit’s camp at Gidan Mai Jaja in Dansadau general area. Here, the rustlers and armed bandits fled on sighting the approaching troops abandoning 85 cows, 37 sheep and a donkey.

 

“Similarly, another patrol team also carried out a raid on armed bandits and cattle rustler’s camp at Gobirawan Kwacha where they killed 2 armed bandits and recovered a machete.

 

“Also, in Boko Haram clearance operation, a patrol team of 157 Task Force Battalion, 7 Brigade, ambushed and killed a Boko Haram terrorists spy at Barwati village, Kukawa Local Government Area.

 

“The insurgent who was on reconnaissance mission to infiltrate the troops’ position, was killed while trying to gain entry into military location.

 

“The team recovered 1 AK-47 rifle, 59 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, one 40mm x 46mm BGL2 grenade, 1 bandolier and 3 AK-47 rifle magazines from him.

 

“Troops have intensified vigilance and high level of alertness as they continued with efforts of clearing the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists in their Area of Responsibility.

 

Regarding the captured gun truck, the statement said, “Following reliable information about movement of remnants of suspected Boko Haram terrorists, troops of 118 Task Force Battalion, 7 Brigade, laid an ambush for the terrorist’s yesterday morning.

 

“The troops laid the ambush about 3 kilometres away from Goneri town, South West of Kukawa Local Government Area, where they encountered the unsuspecting terrorists in 2 gun trucks and on motorcycles and engaged them.

 

“An unconfirmed number of the terrorists escaped with gunshot wounds abandoning 1 Buffalo Land Cruiser gun truck mounted with an Anti-Aircraft gun, 1,600 rounds of 12.7mm Armour Piercing Incendiary (API) ammunitions, 563 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition for General Purpose Machine Guns and 57 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition.

 

“The troops further recovered 1 motorcycle, 7 jerry cans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO), a pair of Nigerien Army uniform, 2 Cameroonian telecommunication service providers SIM cards, as well as a pair of the Boko Haram terrorists   Special Forces uniform.

 

“They also recovered 1 Samsung Galaxy Tablet and assorted drugs and such as Climax Oxytocin, Tetracyclic HC1 Ointment, Drips and Springe, amongst others.

 

“Consolidating on this success, the troops are further exploiting the situation while troops of 157 Task Force Battalion are blocking likely escape routes of remnants of the terrorists in Mile 90, Yoyo, Barwati and Kekeno villages.”

 

END