By Mohammed Munirat Nasir (Zamfara State Correspondent)
Troops of Operation Hadarin Daji (OPHD) have killed several bandits and rescued two kidnapped victims during aggressive onslaughts against the daredevils in Zamfara and Kaduna states.
A statement by the Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima, said the gallant troops will keep up the momentum until the entire North West zone is rid of armed bandits, cattle rustlers, kidnappers, and sundry violent crimes.
Yerima said following a tip-off, troops of Sector 3 Operation HADARIN DAJI on Tuesday stormed Kabasa village in Magami district of Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara state where armed bandits were attacking locals and engaged the bandits in fire duel leading to deaths of scores of bandits.
"The timely arrival of troops forestalled a deadly kidnap and plundering operations by armed bandits which were underway.
"They were swiftly engaged by troops who successfully neutralized scores while others escaped into the forest with bullet wounds.
"Unfortunately one soldier paid the supreme sacrifice and three others who sustained various degrees of injuries during the encounter are currently receiving medical treatment," he said.
Yerima added that on the same day, troops of OPHD responded to a distress call that armed bandits were attacking Gidan Goga village in Maradun local government area also of Zamfara state.
"Troops swiftly mobilized to the area and engaged the bandits with superior firepower, killing 3 while others fled in disarray, some with gunshot wounds," he said.
The Director said troops while conducting fighting patrol rescued two female kidnapped victims in the Birnin Gwari area of Kaduna state who were kidnapped 22 days ago from Kuyallo village in Birnin Gwari local government area.
Yerima said the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) has already congratulated the gallant troops and also thanked the villagers for the credible and timely information they provided the troops which made their operations successful.
"The COAS said the patriotic action of the villagers who saw something and reported to the troops should be emulated by others so that the activities of bandits will be nipped in the bud," he said. NNL.
