Another set of 2,783 terrorists and their families have surrendered to troops following a renewed offensive against the criminal elements in the North-East and North-West, respectively.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) disclosed this while briefing Defence Correspondents on military operations in Abuja, yesterday.
The Acting Director of Defence Media Operations, Brig-Gen Bernard Onyeuko, said a total number of 391 terrorists and armed bandits were killed across the country in the last one month while 103 others were arrested and a large cache of arms and ammunition recovered.
Onyeuko said troops sustained operations across various theatres with significant results.
In the North-East theatre, he said troops had several encounters with terrorists in different locations, adding that 85 BHT/ISWAP were killed while 43, including collaborators were arrested.
He said the troops recovered 121 assorted weapons including SMG, HK21 guns, AK-47 and locally-made rifles with magazines, 3,372 rounds of 7.62mm NATO/Special ammunition, locally made pistols and smooth body grenades, RPG-7 bombs as well as 12,250 bags of fertilizers and 178 rustled livestock among several other items.
In the North-West, he said 240 armed bandits were neutralised, 125 assorted arms, including AK-47 and FN riffles and Dane guns as well as 1,166 rounds of 7.62mm special/NATO ammunition, 1,304 livestock and 54 motorcycles among other items were recovered within the period.
The director said troops also arrested 47 armed bandits, informants and bandits’ collaborators terrorising the region.
He added that 53 armed bandits were killed during air bombardments on criminal enclaves in different locations including Magami and Dansadau forests in Zamfara State.
He stated further that troops of operation Whirl Stroke killed 15 armed bandits and recovered 23 AK-47 rifles with magazines as well as 66 rounds of 7.62mm special and 39mm ammunition.
Also troops of Operation Safe Haven arrested 15 criminals, recovered 14 locally fabricated rifles, 27 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 14 cartridges and 44 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, among others.
In a related development, troops of operation Thunder Strike/Whirl Punch killed 83 armed bandits in different raids in Kaduna State.
He said the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies will not rest on their oars in the fight against criminalities in all parts of the country.
“Under Operation Thunder Strike/whirl Punch, troops maintained their highway and fighting patrols to dominate and provide security in major and minor roads as well as deny armed elements freedom of action.
“September 5, offensive air strikes were executed, using a force pack of Nigerian Air Force platforms, on a bandits’ camp at Kuza Hills, which led to the destruction of some of the criminals’ hideouts and logistics facilities.
“No fewer than 43 bandits were neutralised in the process.
“In same vein, over 40 bandits were neutralised at Fadaman Kanauta in Kidandan forest under Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
“This feat was achieved when the Air Component carried a 3-day intensive air offensive on bandits’ enclaves at the location between September13 and September 15,” he said.
Meanwhile, armed bandits have reportedly abducted 27 people during an attack at Gatawa village in Sabon Brinin Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
A member of the state House of Assembly, who represents Sabon Birni East Constituency, Hon Sa’idu Ibrahim, confirmed the development to newsmen in Sokoto, yesterday.
The lawmaker said the bandits were now targeting security formations in the area.
“They are now looking for where security operatives are stationed because their morale was boosted by their recent attack on a military formation at Dama where many soldiers, policemen and Civil Defence officers were killed.
“So, they are now attacking places where they know military, police or other paramilitary camped.
“They shot two persons, including a woman and burnt three others who hid in a grain store; one of them died instantly while the other two are receiving treatment in the hospital”, he said.
According to the lawmaker, they invaded Gatawa because of the presence of “Operation Puff Ader” camp in the area.
“As I am talking to you now, many policemen are still missing. We don’t know whether they were abducted or ran away”, he said.
Another source from the local government who preferred to speak on the condition of anonymity told Journalists in Sokoto, yesterday, that many casualties were recorded during the latest attack.
All efforts to get the reaction of the Nigerian Police, Sokoto State Command were not successful at the time of writing this report.
When contacted by our correspondent, the Public Relations Officer of the command, ASP Sanusi Abubakar, said he was in a meeting, and promised to get back.
Sabon Birnin is an epicentre of banditry attacks with the state government imposed a no telecommunication service in the area as part of efforts to curb insecurity in the state.