Troops kill notorious kidnapper, nab ransom negotiator in Zamfara
• Commander warns soldiers against indiscipline
THE troops of 1 Division, Nigerian Army under Operation Whirl Punch, have neutralised five bandits, including a notorious kidnapper from Zamfara State identified as Sani Danbuzuwa.
Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 1 Division, Col. Muhammad Dole, made this known in a statement yesterday.
He, however, regretted that one soldier was killed in the process in Kwuyambana forest in Zamfara, while two were injured.
“The wounded soldiers are responding to treatment in a military hospital in Kaduna,” Dole added.
He said the troops also apprehended a “vicious kidnapper and expert in negotiations for ransom, called Yinusa Suleiman from Sambuwa village on August 14, 2018.”
Suleiman is reportedly assisting security operatives in investigations.
“The troops responded to a distress call about an armed robbery along BirninGwari/funtua road. While pursuing the armed robbers, they (soldiers) were ambushed by suspected bandits. However, they fought their way and overpowered the bandits, who hastily withdrew into Kwuyambana forest in Zamfara State,” Dole said.
It was in the process that the remains of five bandits, including Danbuzuwa, were found, he added.
After a thorough search of the ambushed area, one AK47 rifle, three magazines, 87 rounds of 7.62mm, (special) one G3 rifle, four magazines and 61 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) were recovered, he disclosed.
In a related development, the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, MajGen. Abba Dikko, has warned troops against “indiscipline and insubordination”, if they want to end insurgency.
Handing down the warning on Wednesday at the Dalwa front line along 187kilometre Maiduguri/damboa road, Dikko said indiscipline and insubordination could mar whatever had been achieved in the war against insurgency and terrorism.
The warning came through a statement signed by the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations of the command, Col. Onyeama Nwachukwu, in Maiduguri.