The military yesterday said troops killed 128 bandits and arrested 64 others in different theatres of operations across the North West and North Central between November 11 and 25.
Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig.-Gen. Benard Onyeuko, said this in Abuja while updating journalists on military operations.
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He said the troops killed the bandits because they were hell-bent on destroying the country.
Speaking on how the operation was carried out, Onyeuko said the troops executed a series of land and air operations at Runka and Nasarawa villages in Safana Local Government Area and Kaiga Mallammai village, all in Katsina State.
He said the troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI eliminated 118, arrested 12 criminal elements and rescued five kidnapped victims across the theatre within the period.
“Within the period in focus, several airstrikes were executed on bandits’ enclaves, which inflicted heavy casualties on the bandits.
“These include a location where a bandit kingpin, Bello Guda Turji, his subordinate commander, Bello Buza and other foot soldiers operating within Sokoto and part of Zamfa State, use as camp.
“The airstrikes resulted in the neutralisation of scores of armed bandits, including their key leaders and foot soldiers as well as destruction of their structures, equipment, weapons and logistic supplies.
“Troops have continued to heighten aerial patrols across the theatre to deny bandits and other criminal elements freedom of action in the zone,” he said.
He also stated that in the North Central, the troops of Operation Safe Haven rescued some kidnapped civilians and arrested criminal elements.
He named one of the arrested elements as John Paul dealing in weapons and owning a mini factory where he fabricated arms and ammunition.
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