Troops conducting Operation Sharan Daji in Zamfara state killed 58 suspected armed bandits in Dumburum and Gando forest in the state last Sunday, the acting Force Information Officer, Operation Sharan Daji Major Clement K Abiade, said in a statement.
In recent times, troops have stepped up campaign against armed bandits and cattle rustlers wreaking havoc on rural communities in the state.
Major Abiade said troops also captured one armed bandit alive, destroyed 18 camps and rescued 75 kidnapped victims held in some of the camps. The freed captives who were mostly from local communities in Zamfara State were debriefed and reunited with their families.
Other items recovered from the bandits include; 5 Fabric National rifles, 4 AK47 rifles, 10 locally made rifles, 1 locally fabricated pistols and 40 motor cycles.
“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. 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,” he added.
He said In line with the mandate of operation SHARAN DAJI, troops had commenced clearance operations into bandits’ enclaves in Zamfara State and Katsina on 19 January 2019 and to last up till June 2019, adding that the operation was being conducted simultaneously on collaboration with all security agencies and local vigilante to achieve synergy.
