The Nigerian troops have carried out several raids and clearance operations against cattle rustlers and armed bandits in parts of Zamfara State, killing four and recovering several live stocks. The Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, in a statement yesterday, said the troops of 223 Battalion, 1 Brigade under the auspices of Operation Sharan Daji of 1 Division Nigerian Army, today carried out fighting patrol to Kabaru village forest, Maru Local Government Area (LGA) of Zamfara against cattle rustlers and armed bandits. He said that during the patrol, “the troops engaged armed bandits and killed three of them and wounded some.” He said the troops recovered 20 motorcycles, four empty cases of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition and four empty cases of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition.
He listed other recovered items to include a mobile telephone handset, some rings and a bag containing local charms. The DAPR said the troops also carried out similar operation at in forests at Kusa, Bayan Dutse and Gusami general area in Birnin Magaji Local Government Area of the same state. According to Usman, the troops also apprehended a suspected errand boy and informants to the armed bandits at Gusami village. Thereafter, he said, the patrol team proceeded to Maganawa forest where they equally engaged the armed bandits and killed one of them and recovered one locally made pistol, a Dane gun and five rounds of ammunition before returning to base.
