By Abba Kabara. Gusau.
Recent activities by troops of Operation Sahel Sanity have once again yielded remarkable achievements with the arrests of many bandits, recovery of rustled animals and the liberation of many captives.
The acting Director Defense Media Operations Brig. General Benard Onyeuko disclosed this in a press release today.
He said on 25th last month, the timely intervention of troops of the Sahel Sanity led to the smashing of a criminal syndicate with attendant casualty on the criminals, while 43 cows, 6 goats and 8 sheep were recovered from the fleeing rustlers and the recovered animals he said, have been handed over to their lawful owners.
Also according to the release, troops deployed in Kauran Namoda, Zamfara State acting on credible intelligence, successfully intercepted a herd of suspected rustled cattle just as the suspects fled into the bush abandoning 30 cows which have already handed over to their owners.
The Brigadier general further disclosed that on 26 September 2020, troops deployed at Nahuta in Batsari LGA of Katsina State arrested one Umar Bello in possession of 2 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition during a stop and search operation.
During a road block for stop and search operation, the troops arrested one Ahmadu Rufai suspected to be a bandits logistics supplier and recovered from him, one dagger, charms, one bag of groundnut mixed with okro and 4 bags of millet believed to be on transit to a bandits hideout.
In a related development, on 28 September 2020, “troops deployed to Moriki operation base rescued a kidnapped victim named Ismaha who reportedly escaped from unknown bandit’s camp” he said, adding that preliminary investigation revealed that the victim was kidnapped about 3 weeks ago while travelling from Sabon Pegi to Kucheri in Tsafe LGA of Zamfara State.
The Brigadier further reveals that on the same day, troops deployed to Dan Ali operation base rescued a female kidnap victim one Rasila (15 years) who was abducted in a farm at Tashar Biri village, and who has now been reunited with her family.
According to the release, a major achievement was recorded on 29 September 2020 when, on intelligence report on movement of stolen animals using trailers to unknown destination, “troops swiftly established snap check point and intercepted 2 trucks loaded with 55 cows and 10 sheep” he said.
Similarly, on 1 October 2020, troops patrol along Faskari – Yankara road in katsina state, arrested a suspected bandit informant named Idris Yahaya spying on troop’s activities, while in the same vien, troops deployed at Maigora arrested one suspected bandit collaborator called Buhari Adamu at Machika in Dandume LGA of Katsina State who however willingly confessed to have once taken ransom fee to bandits in Madachi Forest.
At Sabon Layi Katsina state, the gallant troops rescued 4 kidnap victims from Giruwa village of Dandume LGA of Katsina State following Artillery bombardments on suspected bandits’ location at Unguwan-Doka village which resulted in neutralizing 4 of the bandits while others escaped into the forest.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the victims have been in captivity for 12 days, and “were already reunited with their families amidst cheers and praises” he said.
