…Police arrest 1, kill a notorious bandit terrorizing users of Kaduna-Abuja highway***
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), on Sunday, wiped out several Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in an encounter at Forward Operating Base, Gajiram Nganzai Local Government Area of Borno.
The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu made this known in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
Nwachukwu said the land and Air components on OPHK with troops of Sector 3, brought devastating volume of fire on the terrorists who attempted to infiltrate the base using gun trucks and several other weapons.
Also read: Troops thwart attempt to attack military base in Borno
He said the terrorists retreated in disarray, having suffered several human and equipment casualties at the time of this report.
According to him, troops, currently exploiting the withdrawal route of the fleeing terrorists, have so far recovered 10 AK 47 riffles, one Anti-Aircraft Gun, one Shilka barrel, one 60mm Mortar tube and 61 rounds of PKT riffle ammunition among others.
He said: “Several charred remains of the terrorists littered the route. Sadly, two gallant Nigerian soldiers paid the supreme price during the encounter.
“The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya has urged the troops to aggressively maintain the momentum of the pursuit until the remnants of the fleeing terrorists are destroyed.”
In the meantime, the Police Command in Kaduna State, says its operatives, Federal Intelligence Bureau (FIB) and Special Tactical Squad (STS) Force headquarters, killed a notorious bandit and arrested an accomplice in Kaduna.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Muhammad Jalije, made the disclosure in a statement issued on Saturday in Kaduna.
Jalige said on November 24, operatives of the Kaduna Police Command, in collaboration with the FIB and STS, on the directive of the Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr Mudassiru Abdullahi, acted on credible intelligence, and raided a facility Known as Sir Joe Guest House, located at NO. 8 Sajo Street Unguwan Maigero area of Sabon Tasha in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna state where suspected bandits were said to have lodged.
According to him, the suspected armed bandits on sensing danger, took to their heels, shooting sporadically and leading to a gun duel with the operatives.
“One notorious bandit, popularly called Yellow Magaji, a.k.a Arushe, was wounded in the shootout whereas his equally notorious partner, Yellow Ashana, and others escaped with bullet wounds.
“The wounded bandit was thereafter taken to Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital for possible resuscitation in a bit to obtain useful information. But he was confirmed dead on arrival by a medical doctor.
He explained that after an extensive search of the scene, the operatives recovered one AK 47 rifle loaded with 23 rounds of 7.62 X 39mm live ammunition, 14 expended shells of the aforesaid ammunition and one Boxer motorcycle belonging to the bandits.
He said the owner of the facility who harbours the criminals was equally arrested for questioning.
“It is significant to state that the neutralized bandit, Yellow Magaji until his demise was among a syndicate of bandits terrorising users of Kaduna-Abuja highway of recent,” he said.
Jalige said the Commissioner of Police saluted the courage of the operatives and most importantly the source of the valid information.
He urged other members of the public to assist security operatives with prompt information as he assures them of absolute confidentiality while acting on the information.
He also called on the law-abiding citizens to always be vigilant and security conscious of their immediate environment in order to avoid being prey to marauding criminals.
