Nigerian Army troops of Operation Sahel Sanity have killed more than 100 armed bandits in the North west region from July 1 to September 4, 2020. The troops have also arrested 148 suspected bandits and 315 illegal armed miners, while a total of 3,984 cows, 1,627 sheep and rams as well as 3 camels were also recovered from armed bandits within the same period under review.
A general update on the activities of Operation Sahel Sanity within the period under review was given by the Acting Director of Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Bernard Onyeuko on Saturday, September 5, 2020
at the Special Army Super Camp IV in Faskari, Katsina State.
General Onyeuko further stated that
a large cache of arms and ammunition recovered from bandits during the period under review include 43 AK47 riffles, 1 GPMG and 100 dane guns, 3,261 rounds of 7.62mm (special) and 151 live cartridges of ammunition.
It was also stated that a total of 107 kidnapped victims were rescued in all the search and rescue operations carried out by the troops. In addition, 20 of the bandits’ informants and collaborators, 6 arms suppliers, 13 marketers of rustled cattle and 32 suppliers of logistics to the bandits were arrested during the period.
Moreso, a total of 81 camps belonging to bandits as well as their logistics bases were destroyed by the troops of Operation Sahel Sanity. The destroyed camps include that of the notorious Dangote Triangle. Remarkably, 74 attacks by the bandits and 54 kidnap incidents were successfully foiled by the troops during the period under review.
According to General Onyeuko, an appreciable improvement in security of the North West had been confirmed by the Chairmen of the Committees on Army in the National Assembly. He further stated that the same position was also expressed by executive governors and a host of prominent traditional rulers from the North West region during their official visits to the Headquarters of Operation Sahel Sanity at the Nigerian Army Special Super Camp IV Faskari Katsina State from August 7 to 14, 2020.
Meanwhile, the efforts of Nigerian Army had been openly lauded for routing out all forms of criminality from the North western states of Sokoto, Katsina, Kaduna, Kebbi and Zamfara. It was added that the people had attested to the fact that normal life had indeed returned to the zone as farming, economic and social life of the people are already being carried out in the region without any form of hindrance or molestation by criminal elements.