The Nigerian Army says troops of the “Operation Sahel Sanity” have arrested 22 suspected bandits, informants and their suppliers during clearance operations in Zamfara and Katsina states.
Brig.-Gen. Benard Onyeuko, Acting Director of Defence, Media Operations, made the disclosure in a statement to newsmen on Thursday in Katsina.
Onyeuko said that the troops also recovered over 40 rustled cattle during the operations.
He said that the suspects were arrested in different villages during the operations carried out between Aug. 5 and Aug. 11, in the two states.
According to Onyeuko, the troops destroyed eight of the bandits’ camps in the forests.
He revealed that the suppliers and collaborators were arrested while slaughtering the rustled cows and preparing them for sale to the public, while the informants were nabbed following a tip-off.
He added that the collaborators sell stolen animals for the bandits and supply them basic needed items in the forests.
According to him, the troops killed one of the bandits during one of their encounters at Zamfarawa village in Katsina.
He noted that a lot of the criminals escaped with gunshot wounds into the forest during the encounter.
Onyeuko said that the troops also rescued two kidnapped victims and recovered about four Dane guns abandoned by the bandits at their camps when they sighted the troops approaching their hideouts in the forest.
Onyeuko quoted the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai as commending the troops for their gallantry, successes and resilience and urged them not to rest on their oars.
He assured people of the Northwest zone of the Nigerian Army’s commitment to the safety of lives and property within the zone.
