Troops arrest 50 bandits, arms suppliers, recover 1, 000 cows in Zamfara

The Defence Headquarters has assured that Zamfara State will be freed from banditry following the campaign mounted by “Operation Sharan Daji” that has resulted in the arrest of over 50 notorious armed bandits in the last one month.

Acting Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General John Agim, who disclosed this on Friday at a press conference in Gusau, Zamfara State , said that over 20 sophisticated arms, assorted ammunition and some dangerous locally made weapons were recovered from the bandits.

Agim said that other exploits recorded by the military operation, include the arrest of Amos Ugwuozor, Nura Mukhtari and Sani Yaro, identified as the chief logistics and arms suppliers to the bandits.

The military, he added had also recovered two cars and 36 motorcycles, just as some cattle rustlers, including two female bandits were arrested.

Agim said, “Sharan Daji operation has also led to the rescue of three kidnapped victims with over N500, 000 recovered from the kidnappers.

“Robust patrols and armed escorts around vulnerable villages and weekly local markets have built confidence in the community, so that bandits no longer have freedom of action, where they impose levies and harass traders.

“It is on record that activities of our troops had led to the recovery of over 1, 000 rustled cows which were returned to the owners,” he added.

The defence spokesman also cited the return of peace and security in Maradun, Shinkafi and Zurmi council areas, which he said, has led to the massive return of more than 6, 000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their homes where economic and farming activities had commenced in earnest.

“The Air Task Force (ATF) in support of OPSD recently launched series of air strikes against the bandits’ hideouts and camps in Sububu and Rugu forests.

The attacks successfully neutralized large number of armed bandits and destroyed their camps,” the spokesman stated.

Agim said that the thick forests and other ungoverned areas serve “as sanctuary and safe haven for the bandits, from where they planned and launch attacks on innocent people.

“The troops make use of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms to gain real time information on the movements and locations of the bandits thereby denying them freedom of action”.

The Daily Times reports that the security situation in Zamfara State was characterized by wanton killings, kidnappings for ransom, cattle rustling and armed robbery before the deployment of army, air force, the police, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.