- Kill 11 bandits, recover 122 livestock
By Senator Iroegbu in Abuja
The Nigerian troops involved in live field training exercise code named “Exercise Harbin Kunama”, have intensified patrol and operation to clear cattle rustlers from the various forests in Zamfara State.
The exercise was launched last week by President Muhammad Buhari as part of the activities marking the Nigerian Army Day celebrations (NADCEL) 2016.
The Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, in a statement yesterday, said that troops of 223 Battalion while on patrol encountered armed bandits at Madaka village, Maru Local Government Area of the state in which they killed nine armed bandits.
Usman said the troops also recovered three AK-47 rifles, two AK-47 rifles magazine, three rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, a machete and 24 motorcycles.
He also said 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, he stated that the troops have also raided a bandit camp at Gangamai village in Dansadau Local Government Area.
Usman said during the raid, there was an exchange of fire between the troops and the armed bandits.
He however stated that the bandits escaped with gunshot wounds.
The army spokesman said the troops recovered two Dane guns bags containing marijuana.
sHe disclosed that another team also carried out raid on cattle rustlers and armed bandits 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,” he stated.
Similarly, he said, another patrol team also carried out a raid on a armed bandits and cattle rustlers camp at Gobirawan Kwacha where they killed two armed bandits and recovered a machete.
