Insecurity: 22 bandits arrested, kidnap victims rescued by troops in Katsina, Zamfara

The Army says it arrested about 22 suspected bandits, informants, and their food suppliers in its various operations conducted in Katsina and Zamfara States recently.

The Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig-Gen. Benard Onyeuko,  said this in a statement on Thursday, in Katsina.

He said that the troops also recovered over 40 rustled animals during the operations.

Onyeuko added that the suspects were arrested at different villages during the operations carried out between August 5 and 11, 2020, in the two states.

The Acting Director, Defence Media Operations also said the army destroyed eight bandits camps in the forests from where they operate.

Onyeuko also revealed that the suppliers and collaborators were arrested while butchering the rustled cows and preparing them for sale to the public, while the informants were nabbed following a tip-off.

He further explained that the collaborators used to sell stolen animals for the bandits and supply them with basic needed items in the forests.

According to him, the troops killed one bandit during one of their encounters at Zamfarawa village of Katsina State.

He equally said that a lot of the criminals escaped with gunshot wounds into the forests during the encounter. Onyeuko said that the troops were able to rescue two kidnapped victims and recovered about four Dane guns abandoned by the bandits at their camps when they sighted the troops approaching their hideouts in the forests.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai commended the troops for their gallantry, successes, and resilience and advised them not to rest on their oars.

He also assured people of the northwest zone of Nigerian Army’s commitment to the safety of lives and property within the zone.