- NAF’s strikes eliminate key Boko Haram figure, others in Borno
- Military kill 20 terrorists, arrest 20, rescue 83 victims from bandit
A total of 11 people were reportedly killed when gunmen raided Zamfara and Taraba states’ villages over the weekend.
Ten of the victims, said to be farmers, were killed by hoodlums suspected to be bandits in Taraba State. The eleventh victim was killed in Zamfara State where the hoodlums abducted 150 residents.
The Nation learnt that the Taraba attack occurred on Friday in Nyicwu Village, a suburb of Yangtu Development Area of Takum Local Government Council.
The Taraba State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Usman, disclosed this yesterday, adding that the assailants escaped after the attack.
The victims, all members of the Kuteb ethnic group, were identified by the Command as Hope Hassan, Rimamsomtse Lamadi, Holiness Enoch, Rimamtsiki Enoch, Egwu Hassan, Saleh Kyatiki, Ephraim Atenji, Manasseh Atenji, and Hassan Songure.
“The Commissioner of Police Joseph Eribo, has ordered the immediate deployment of an anti-kidnapping team to the area,” the command’s spokesman said.
The Nation gathered that the remains of the victims had been released to their relatives for burial.
In a related development, gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram insurgents on Friday killed one person and abducted about 150 people, including women and children, in a coordinated attack on four villages in Zamfara State.
The Nation learnt that the gunmen riding on dozens of motorcycles stormed the villages of Mutunji, Kwanar-Dutse, Sabon-Garin Mahuta and Unguwar Kawo in the Maru local government area of the state and shattered the peaceful atmosphere.
Dankandai Musa, a resident of one of the villages, said he managed to slip away unnoticed during the chaos. But 20 members of his household were taken.
‘I managed to escape after they were regrouping us and the people from the three other villages that were attacked,’ he said. ‘I fled while they were dragging us to the bush.’
A local village head said Lawali Damana, leader of the gunmen, had demanded 100 million naira ($119,000) from the villages as retribution after Nigerian troops killed four of his men earlier.
‘So yesterday, he came in the company of his boys and took away over a hundred people with him and we haven’t heard anything from him since. One person was shot dead in the process of taking the hostages,’ said the village head, who didn’t want to be named for fear of being targeted.
Meanwhile, air strikes by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) jets have killed four Boko Haram leaders in Borno State.
The air strikes hit Tagoshe on the Mandara mountain, killing Abu Asad, Ibrahim Nakeeb, Mujaheed Dimtu, Mustafa Munzira who were key Boko Haram leaders in the Ali Ngulde group, and several fighters.
NAF’s spokesperson, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, disclosed this in a statement yesterday.
According to Gabkwet, the terrorists were massing up at an isolated location consisting of three zinced structures amid several trees “either for a well-planned meeting or preparing for a major attack on our troops,” when bombs hit the location.
He said: “over 100 heavily armed terrorists were observed throwing banters and moving randomly around the structures which also had four troop carriers. The aftermath of the air strike revealed that two out of the three structures, as well as the entire troop carriers were destroyed.
“There are also indications that Abu Asad, a key figure in the Ali Ngulde group under Boko Haram, as well as other terrorists like Ibrahim Nakeeb, Mujaheed Dimtu, Mustafa Munzir and several fighters were among the several terrorists eliminated in the air strike.”
Gabkwet said the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar has commended the Air Component Commander and his men on the successful operations.
He said the NAF’s chief urges them to continue to synergize with the Land Component as they maintain the momentum in, “keeping the terrorists on their toes.”
“We must continue to justify the trust and confidence the Federal Government and our people have bestowed on us by ensuring that we go all out in making life unbearable for these terrorists and criminals until they surrender or are completely eliminated,” the NAF’s chief said.
A similar success story was recorded by the troops of Operation Haderin Daji in the Northwest zone as they neutralized suspected terrorists in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State.
A statement issued by the spokesman of OPHD, Captain Yahaya Ibrahim said the troops also rescued kidnapped hostages in Faskari and Batsari Local Government Area of the State.
“Furthermore, troops’ offensive operations led to the neutralization of terrorists in Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State. Troops responded to bandits activities in Malumfashi and Danmusa Local Government Areas of Zamfara and Katsina States respectively as well as Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The statement disclosed that the troops conducted a fighting patrol in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State and arrested a suspected impostor in Mallam Madori Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
“On 13 November 2023, following a tip-off, troops arrested five suspected terrorists in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State. Preliminary investigation revealed that suspects were part of the terrorists that attacked Sayaya village on 6 Nov 23 in the same LGA”
“On 13 and 14 November 2023, troops intercepted and rescued 11 kidnapped hostages in Faskari and Batsari Local Government Areas of the State”
“On 15 November 2023, troops while on fighting patrol made contact with terrorists in Batsari LGA of Katsina State. Following a firefight, troops neutralized one terrorist and recovered one AK47 rifle, 2 magazines loaded with 20 rounds of 7.62 mm Special ammo and 4 motorcycles”
“Between 18 and 19 November 2023, in separate operations, troops responded to information on bandits activities in Maru, Malumfashi and Danmusa Local Government Areas of Zamfara and Katsina States respectively. Following a firefight, troops neutralized 4 bandits and rescued 2 kidnapped hostages”
“The troops recovered one AK47 rifle with magazine loaded with 13 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammo, 3 mobile phones, one motorcycle and the sum of N18,560.00”
The statement added that, On 20 November 2023, troops conducted a fighting patrol and made contact with bandits in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State, saying that with a firefight, troops neutralized 4 terrorists and recovered 2 locally made pistols, one long Dane gun, 5 empty cases of 7.62mm special ammo, 4 mobile phones and destroyed 2 motorcycles.
“On 21 November 2023, troops on fighting patrol responded to kidnapping activities in Tangaza LGA of Sokoto State. Troops rescued 52 kidnapped hostages on the operation.”
It further stated that On 17 November 2023, the air component of Operation Haderin Daji conducted air interdiction on a targeted terrorist leader’s enclave known as Lalbi Nagogo.
“The enclave is in Danmusa LGA of Katsina State. Following confirmation of the terrorist and his foot soldiers’ presence, the location was struck with rockets and cannons. Battle Damage Assessment revealed several terrorists were neutralized with various structures destroyed”
“The troops neutralized 20 terrorists, arrested 20 terrorists and rescued 83 kidnapped hostages. Troops also recovered 2 AK47 rifles, one AK47 rifle loaded with 13 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, one long Dane gun, 2 locally made pistols, 72 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 5 empty cases of rounds of 7.62mm special 4 magazines, 5 motorcycles, 7 mobile phones and amongst others”
“All recovered items, arrested suspects and rescued hostages were handed over to the relevant authority for further actions. These actions include prosecution*
