By Victor Akaa, Abuja.
The Defence Headquarters has announced the raid of Dangote Camp, a notorious stronghold base of armed bandits located deep inside the forest by the gallant troops of Combat Team 1, Operation Sahel Sanity with the support of Air Task Force where 17 bandits were killed while many weapons as well as vehicle recovered.
This successful encounter took place on 18 July 2020 ,where the gallant troops of aforementioned theatre operation had advanced and captured one of the notorious armed bandits strongholds located deep in the forest in Jibia LGA of Katsina State known as Dangote Camp
This is in line with the noble mission of the military to rid the North-West zone of armed bandits, cattle rustlers, Kidnappers and other sundry criminal activities.
Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig. Gen. Benard Onyeuko in statement issued to Enugu Reporters on Sunday explained that, before now, the armed bandits were initially resisting the attack but the troops effectively and successfully subdued them by the superior tactics and dexterity which resulted in inflicting heavy casualty on the bandits.
Onyeuko added that about 17 bandits were neutralized while several others were believed to have escaped with gunshot wounds as evident by the trails of blood along their escape routes.
“Equally,at the end of the encounter ,5 AK 47 Rifles, 3 Dane guns, 2 AK 47 Rifle magazines, 152 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition and 7 motorcycles were captured from the fleeing bandits.”
The statement however regretted that one brave officer and 2 gallant soldiers had paid their supreme price while 4 other soldiers were wounded in action.
According Onyeuko, the wounded in action soldiers are currently responding positively to treatment in a military medical facility.
Meanwhile, the Acting Director had also said, on 18 July 2020, troops conducting fighting patrol along Faskari – Sheme – Dandume Road in Katsina State, arrested 5 suspected bandits including one female.
“One of the suspects, Bashir Usman who claimed to be a policeman during interrogation could not validate his claim with any form of identification was apprehended with one AK 47 Rifle loaded with 28 rounds of ammunition while riding on a motorcycle.
“Other items recovered from him include one handset and the sum of Six Thousand Three Hundred and Fifty Naira (N6,050. 00) only. Suspects are presently undergoing preliminary interrogation.
“Furthermore, on 17 July 2020, troops following a tip off that bandits invaded Kuka Uku Village in Batsari LGA, Katsina State and kidnapped a 16 year old Miss Hadiza Sani, promptly mobilized to the area and made contact with the bandits who abandoned the victim and fled due to the troops aggressive pursuit.
“The rescued victim has since been reunited with her family.
“Similarly, on 17 July 2020, troops deployed at Forward Operation Base Bagega rescued another kidnapped victim, a 10 year old girl, following an alarm by her mother that two bandits on motorcycle kidnapped the victim while they were fetching firewood around Bagega – Tudurki Forest. The rescued has been united with her family.” he stated.
Gen. Enyeuko however noted that the Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Yusufu Buratai has commended the troops for the gallantry, successes and resilience.
Buratai therefore urged them not to rest on their oars but build on the successes so far achieved.
He further assured the people of the North-West zone of the Nigerian Army’s commitment to the safety of lives and properties within the zone.
