The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Operation SHARAN DAJI

  • Troops neutralize five bandits in Sokoto

    Troops of operation Sharan Daji in a clearance operation have neutralized five bandits after raiding their camps in Sokoto state, the Defence Headquarters announced Friday.

    Its spokesman, Col Onyema Nwachukwu said in a statement that the troops also recovered arms and ammunition from the bandits.

    The statement reads: “In an intensified effort to rid the North West part of the country of bandits and other criminal elements, troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria have continued to record successes, as combined forces of 818 Battalion deployed for CLEARANCE OPERATIONS in conjunction with troops of Operation SHARAN DAJI recently over ran and cleared bandits enclaves in Sabon Birni and Dangulbi villages in Sokoto State.

    “In a coordinated operation, the troops further raided and dislodged bandit camps at Gobirawan and Gidan Garba forests, killing 5 bandits while others fled in disarray abandoning their camps, following the superior fire power of the troops.

    READ ALSO: Army set to flush out bandits in Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina

    “The gallant troops also recovered 4 Motor Cycles, 2 Ak 47 riffles and one locally fabricated gun.

    “In a similar operation, troops conducted Cordon and Search operations in some suspected hideouts in Zaki Biam, in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.

    “During the sting operation, troops arrested suspected bandits who revealed their hideout, where troops recovered 1 locally made rifle, a pistol, 3 shotgun cartridges and 1 stolen motorcycle.

    “In a separate operation also in Benue state, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE deployed at Agagbe in Gwer West Local Government Area, last Thursday had a fierce encounter with armed herdsmen along Azoom river bank.

    “In the fire fight that ensued, troops routed the herdsmen and recovered 3 locally made rifles, 1 AK 47 magazine, 27 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and 1 machete. The troops are currently on the trail of the fleeing criminals.”

  • Banditry: Troops arrest Anka LGA Vice chairman

    Troops of the “Operation Sharan Daji” in Zamfara have arrested the Vice Chairman of Anka Local Government of the state, Mr Yahuza Wuya for alleged link to bandits.

    The Acting Information Officer of the operation, Maj. Clement Abiade confirmed the arrest of Wuya in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja Thursday.

    Abiade said the council vice chairman was picked up on April 13 based on credible intelligence linking him to bandits’ activities in Wuya and Sunke communities.

    He alleged that Wuya “seamlessly assist in selling rustled/stolen cows and donkeys as well as giving information about troops, other security agencies and vigilantes’ movement to the bandits.’’

    The acting information officer also alleged that the suspect aided “the release of a notorious gun runner (Sani Yaro) from the Gusau prison.’’

    In another related development, Abiade said troops arrested two suspected informants along Burukusuma-Sabon Birni road in Sokoto State.

    He named them as Malam Ibrahim Bangaje and Mallam Ado Bayero.

    Abiade said that they would be handed over to relevant security agency for possible prosecution after initial investigation.

    Meanwhile, the Force Commander Operation Sharan Daji, Maj.-Gen. Hakeem Otiki has restated the commitment of troops toward enduring peace in Zamfara, Katsina, Kebbi and Sokoto states.

    Otiki, who is the GOC 8 Division Sokoto, appealed to the public to support the operation by reporting suspicious activities and movement of bandits to nearest security agencies for prompt action.

    NAN reports that on April 10, Gov.  Abdulaziz Yari, said 3,526 persons were killed by armed bandits in the state in the last five years.

    Speaking during a Town Hall Meeting attended by the acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, Yari said nearly 500 villages had also been devastated and 8,219 persons were injured, some are still in critical condition.

    He also said that over 13,000 hectares of farmlands were either destroyed or made useless as the farmers can no longer farm them.

    “The economy of the state has seriously suffered because thousands of shops were destroyed by the rampaging bandits who had displaced thousands of our people from their places of abode, many of whom cannot sleep with their two eyes closed because of fear,” he added.

    Yari said the government had written volumes of reports containing over 7,000 pages, giving details of the crises right from the beginning to the infiltration from Libya and Boko Haram.

    He disclosed that the government was aware of eight prominent bandits camps at different bush locations in the state, and urged that they should all be neutralized in order to decimate the criminals.

  • Troops kill 55 bandits, rescue 760 abductees in Zamfara

    Troops of Operation Sharan Daji have killed 55 bandits and rescued 760 persons abducted from villages in Zamfara state.

    This was contained in a statement signed by Acting Force Information Officer, Maj. Clement Abiade in Gusau on Tuesday.

    He said, the troops also recovered weapons, ammunition and rustled cows as they blocked all entry points to the bushes to deny the bandits free movement while building confidence of the locals.

    “A total of 24 suspected bandits informants, rustlers, kidnappers and logistics suppliers were arrested and handed over to the police for further investigation.

    “The Air Component of the operation carried out several air strikes around Kagara, Gando, Fankama, Fete and Dumburum forest during which successes were recorded.

    “Items recovered include four AK 47 rifles, one Rocket Propelled Gun Tube, 12 Dane guns, 27 AK 47 Magazines, 168 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, one Pump Action Gun, 47 Motorcycles, a Golf wagon car and 61 rustled cattle,” he said.

    Read Also: Zamfara: INEC reschedule elections in 29 wards

    He added:”The troops’sustained operation led to the return of over 1000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs from Maru to Bini village on Feb.17.

    “The Emir of Maru, Alhaji Abubakar Chika and the Chairman of Maru Local Government Area (LGA) Alhaji Salisu Dangulbi witnessed their departure at the LGA headquartres.

    “Unfortunately, this feat was not achieved without supreme sacrifice being paid by one officer, two soldiers and a vigilante who paid the supreme prize during the encounter with bandits in Kagara forest.”

    He said the Force Commander, Maj.-Gen. Olabanji Stevenson sympathized with the families of those who lost their lives or got wounded assuring that their pains would not be in vain.

    NAN

  • Troops neutralise 58 bandits, rescue 78

    The Nigerian Army announced on Wednesday that no fewer than 58 bandits have been killed by troops in clearance operations within Kaduna, Katsina and Zamfara axis, while 78 victims of kidnapping were rescued.

    It added that 18 camps of the bandits operating in different forests within the area were destroyed by troops of Operation Sharan Daji. Arms and ammunition were also recovered from them within the period of the operations.

    However, two soldiers and two members of vigilante group lost their lives during the encounter.

    A statement signed by the Acting Force Information Officer for Operation Sharan Daji, Major Clement Abiade, added that 8 soldiers and 6 vigilante members were wounded during the clearance operations.

    Major Abiade said: ” In line with the mandate of operation SHARAN DAJI, troops commenced clearance operations into bandits enclaves in Zamfara State and Katsina on 19 January 2019 and to last up till June 2019. The operation is being conducted simultaneously in collaboration with all security agencies and local vigilante to achieve synergy. The current offensive is designed to identify and destroy bandits’ camps/enclaves in the area of operation.

    “Already, the operation has recorded some successes. On 20 January 2019, troops came into contact with a large gang of bandits armed with sophisticated firearms and Rocket Propelled grenades at Dumburum and Gando forests leading to fierce gun battles which lasted several hours. The bandits were forced to abandon their camps due to superior firepower during these encounters.

    “The items recovered from the bandits include 5 Fabric National Rifles, 4 AK 47 Rifles, 10 locally made rifles, 1 locally fabricated pistol and 40 motorcycles.

    “The casualty figures on the bandits’ side were 58 bandits neutralized, while one was captured alive. Troops also destroyed 18 camps and rescued 75 kidnapped victims held in some of these camps. The freed captives who were mostly from local communities in Zamfara State were debriefed and reunited with their families.

    “Unfortunately, Operation SHARAN DAJI also suffered some casualties in these encounters. So far, two gallant soldiers and 2 members of the vigilante paid the supreme prize. A total of 8 soldiers and 6 vigilantes also sustained various degrees of gunshot injuries.

    Read Also: Troops neutralise Boko Haram terrorists in Yobe

    “Those who sustained injuries were immediately evacuated to Federal Medical Centre, Gusau for medical treatment, while those with life-threatening conditions were evacuated by air for specialist attention outside the theatre of operation. The families of the fallen heroes have been contacted accordingly, while the deceased members of the vigilante were laid to rest in Anka Cemetery according to Islamic rites.

    ” The Force Commander, Operation SHARAN DAJI, Maj Gen SO Olabanji commiserate with families of the fallen heroes and assures them that their sacrifices will not be in vain. He reaffirms the commitment of operation SHARAN DAJI to rid Zamfara State of all forms of banditry and criminality in line with its mandate.

    “Therefore, the general public is enjoined to cooperate with troops and furnish security agencies with useful and timely information about bandits’ activities within their domain.“

  • Troops kill 35, arrest 39 armed bandits in North West

    Troops kill 35, arrest 39 armed bandits in North West

    The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division Nigeria Army, Major General Adeniyi Oyebade Friday disclosed that in their operations focusing on an anti-cattle rustling and armed banditry within the north west zone code named Operation SHARAN DAJI, no fewer than 35 armed bandits have been killed while 38 of them have been arrested and handed over to the police in the various states of their arrest.

    The ‎GOC who made the disclosure while briefing Journalists Friday on their activities within the past 2 months which he said is aimed at ridding off the north West zone of all forms of arm banditry, cattle rustling and all forms of criminality also disclosed that 6009 various animals have equally been recovered within the zone.

    Also recovered from the armed bandits the GOC said, are several AK 47 riffles, dane guns, short barrel locally made guns, machetes, bows and arrows, G3 rifles, AK 47 rifle Mags, AK 47 Bayonet, 91 rounds of 7.62mm special and 3 cartridges and N45,000.4.

    In the course of the operations carried out in Kaduna, Zamfara, Niger, Kano and Katsina states, the GOC also disclosed that 49 camps of the bandits were destroyed.

    He said,‎ arrested suspects within Kaduna state were handed over to the Kaduna State police command and the animals handed over to the Kaduna State Government, while those arrested in Zamfara, Katsina and Kano States where equally handed over to their state police commands and governments accordingly.

    ‎In Niger State, the GOC said, the 31 Artillery Brigade which covers the axis are deployed as a blocking force to intercept escaping cattle rustlers and bandits while also conducting fighting patrols around Pandogari-Kusheuki Gidigori and Pandogari-Mai Kujeri roads which serves as escape routes for the bandits.

    “In Kaduna State, ‎465 recovered animals, 16 bandits arrested, 9 bandits killed, 7 weapons recovered and 8 camps destroyed.

    “In Zamfara State‎, 1,443 animals recovered, 19 bandits arrested, 13 bandits killed, 8 weapons recovered and 20 camps destroyed.

    “In Katsina/ Kano State, 4101 animals recovered, 4 bandits arrested, 13 bandits killed, 21 assorted guns, including 3 AK 47 Rifles local weapons and bows and arrows and 10 and 11 camps destroyed in Katsina and Kano respectively,” he disclosed.

    During the course of the various operations, the GOC also disclosed that one Sergeant Nansel Dangnap of 2 battalion was killed by armed bandits while 3 soldiers sustained varying degrees of injuries.

    General Oyebade also disclosed that fleeing terrorists from the North East to North West are being tracked and quite a lot of them arrested while assuring that the security operatives are on top of all security situations within the zone.

    He however warned organizations and groups to desist from any act capable of causing a breakdown of law and order within the zone, stressing that “under my watch any act that threatens the rule of law will not be tolerated”.

    “1 Division will continue to work hard to ensure the security of lives and property within our area of responsibility to enhance socio-economic growth and development in line with the vision of Mr President,” he assured.