Troops kill 20 bandits, recover 24 rifles, 55 motorbikes in Zamfara
Troops of Operation Sharan Daji in Zamfara State have killed 20 armed bandits, recovered 24 rifles and other assorted weapons, the acting director, Defence Information, Brigadier-General John Agim, has disclosed.
Briefing newsmen on the success recorded on the operation being conducted by the military and other security agencies, Agim said during the period in focus, troops also recovered 1,444 cows, 478 sheep, 11 camels, 14 donkeys, 56 rams and 293 goats.
He said the recovered rustled animals had been handed over to the State Committees on Recovery of Rustled Cattle. Similarly, some household gadgets and electronic items were recovered. They included one deep freezer, one generator set and 14 cell phones.
Other items recovered were two military desert camouflages, one camouflage T-shirt and jungle hat, 55 motorcycles and the sum of N27,430.00 as well as food items.
“Of utmost interest are the sophisticated weapon systems that have been recovered. These included 24 AK 47 Riffles, 2 pump action guns, 1 double barrel gun, 40 magazines with quantity 1,798 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, 1 locally made pistol, 8 locally made guns and 2 cartridges”
“Others were 7 Dane guns, 1 FN bayonet, 7 axes, 2 bows and arrows, 1 handcuff, 30 machetes and 6 knives. The troops also recovered raps of Indian hemp as well as charms. The recovered weapons are displayed outside and you shall see them after this briefing,” he added.
Agim said the operation was part of the Operation 777 being conducted and coordinated simultaneously nationwide under the auspices of the Defence Headquarters. Prior to the launch of Operation 777, bandits and criminals had devised different means of evading ongoing operations in different theatres of operations.
“However, since the commencement of Operation 777 on 8 October 2018, significant operational successes have been recorded across the nation. The OPSD is mostly targeted against the activities of bandits, kidnappers, armed robbers and cattle rustlers”
“The operational activities and Area of Responsibility (AOR) was expanded to achieve the set objectives of Op 777. The newly reinvigorated OPSD now covers entire Zamfara State and some LGAs of the contiguous States of Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi and Sokoto. All these efforts contributed immensely to the achievements of OPSD during the period under review”
“The Air Task Force (ATF) in support of this operation has also continued to strike at the bandits as well as destroying their enclaves in the forests. The air bombardment on bandits’ camps and hideout has kept them constantly on the run, disorganized and incapable of launching coordinated attacks on communities like before, and this will continue to be sustained,” he said.