Troops of Operation Whirl Punch have neutralised four bandits, including one notorious bandit leader, during patrols in Giwa Local Govetnmrnt Area of Kaduna State at the weekend.
The troops were said to have conducted the special fighting patrol first to Tumburku village and Sabon Sara, both in Giwa LGA.
This was contained in a statement by the Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, on Monday.
He said acting on credible intelligence, the troops sighted bandits fleeing the areas, and chased after them.
“The troops neutralized two of the bandits, and recovered a range of items including a motorcycle, a mobile phone, gas lighters, tobacco, assorted charms, and a polythene bag containing petrol,” he said.
He said the reports revealed that one of the bandits neutralized in the operations was a notorious bandit leader, Dogo Bangaje, who was eliminated alongside a close associate yet to be identified.
He said another leg of the operation was conducted at Basurfe village, Southwest of Kindandan where the troops fought repelled an ambush, forcing the bandits to flee on motorcycles and neutralizing two more bandits.
Aruwan added that the troops raided the area and dislodged a camp serving as a treatment area for the insurgents.
He said recoveries made at the location included two AK-47 rifles, one pump action rifle, three magazines, 16 rounds of ammunition, one Improvised Explosive Device (IED), two radios and one motorcycle, as well as cigarettes, drugs and medical accessories.
Receiving the report, the Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, praised the troops under the leadership of GOC 1 Division and Commander Operation Whirl Punch, Major General MLD Saraso, for their efforts and congratulated them on the remarkable breakthrough.
The governor urged the security forces to sustain the momentum towards flushing out criminal elements from the area.
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