Bandits’ Leader Surrenders as Troops Arrest 8, Rescue 27 Civilians
Resulting from the intensity of Operation Sahel Sanity, a bandit leader identified as Sada has willingly surrendered to troops at Forward Operation Base Dansadau, in Katsina State.
Sada, also submitted three AK-47 rifles, one Sub Machine Gun and two Magazines, according to a statement by the Defence Headquarters (DHQ).
In the statement released by Brig. Gen. Bernard Onyeuko, Acting Director, Defence Media Operations (DMO), it was gathered that troops, deployed at Faskari town, on routine patrol came in contact with some bandits in company of two kidnapped women.
“While troops closed in on the suspects, the bandits fled into a rocky area. Nevertheless, the resilient troops mounted a hot pursuit forcing them to abandon the 2 kidnapped women. The victims were safely rescued and reunited with their families.
“Relatedly, on 2 September 2020 troops on patrol around Mararaban Kawaye received information that armed bandits have kidnapped 3 commuters. The troops swiftly tracked the bandits through their withdrawal route and engaged them in a fire fight which forced the bandits to abandon the kidnapped victims and flee into the bush,” it said.
The DHQ, in the statement further, noted that troops conducting stop and search along Bingi road intercepted a suspected bandit name Isah Shehu.
The statement partly reads: “Information from his phone reveals that the suspect is a notorious bandit addressed as “Commander” by members of his group. Similarly, troops acting on reliable intelligence arrested one Abubakar Ibrahim, who is suspected to be an informant working for a wanted notorious bandit leader named Ado Alieru.
“Furthermore, on 6 September 2020, troops on patrol responded to a distress call over a kidnap activity at an estate along Dandume road as they quickly mobilized to the area, however, the suspects who were believed to have been hinted through their informants abandoned 9 kidnapped victims and fled the area before the troops arrival.
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“Also, on 7 September 2020, troops at Forward Operation Base Kekuwuje while on routine patrol arrested 2 suspected bandits. Items recovered from them include the sum of One Million Five Hundred and Sixty-Five Thousand Five Hundred and Fifty Naira (N1,565,550.00) suspected to be acquired from one of their criminal activities, one Motorcycle, 2 mobile phones and cloths concealed in a bag.
“In another development, on 8 September 2020, troops deployed at Daki Takwas intercepted and arrested 17 armed Yansakai members on 7 motorcycles at Danmarke village in Bukkuyum LGA of Zamfara State. Items recovered from them include 12 locally fabricated Dane guns, 7 motorcycles and assorted charms.
“Relatedly, on 9 September 2020, troops on patrol rescued 14 persons kidnapped by suspected bandits along Dutsinma-Yantumaki road. The victims who were travelling along the route in a commercial vehicle ran into the bandits who diverted their vehicle in an attempt to take them hostage. However, following prompt information by eyewitness, troops quickly mobilized and pursuit the bandits forcing them to abandon the vehicle laden with passengers. All 14 victims were safely rescued.
“Furthermore, on 10 September 2020, troops conducting clearance operation at Shekewa general area destroyed several bandits camps and arrested 3 suspected bandits named Adamu Musa, Hassan Bello and Rabiu Salisu, also one bandit was neutralized while trying to escape on a motorcycle.
“Furthermore, on 11 September 2020, following information from locals, troops arrested one Yahaya Abubakar identified to be a bandit collaborator at Ungwan Kardorako village. Relatedly, troops while on patrol came in contact with suspected bandits along Bindim-Magami road, troops instinctively pursued the criminals forcing them to abandon 3 kidnapped victims as they managed to escape into the nearby bush.
“Similarly, troops acting on credible intelligence arrested a wanted suspected bandit named Usman Gorjo at Ungwar Alhaji Danbuzu and a suspected bandit informant named Isah Bala at Daudawa village. Suspects were arrested in connection with the killing of the head of Daudawa vigilante group recently.”
