By Festus Fifen.

The Nigeria Military says In continuation of aggressive clearance operation to stamp out criminal activities in the North Central zone of the country, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN have continued to record remarkable successes.

Coordinator Defence Media Operations Major General John Enenche said in the statement on Saturday that Troops on 25 November 2020, on night patrol came in contact with suspected armed robbers along Angul Maraban Jama’a road in Barkin Ladi, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State. During the encounter, one armed robber was neutralized and Items recovered in his possession was one locally fabricated pistol while others escaped with gunshot wounds.

The gallant troops have continued to dominate the general area with aggressive patrols to deny bandits freedom of action. The general public is thus encouraged to continue to provide credible information to the troops operating within their localities.

Similarly, The Air Component of Operation HADARIN DAJI Also recorded more successes against armed bandits in the North West of the Country with the obliteration of another camp and neutralization of scores of their fighters at Birnin Kogo Forest in Katsina State.
The Statement added that Air strikes executed by the Air Component equally resulted in the destruction of some structures at a camp in Dunya Forest also in Katsina State.

The air raids were conducted on 23 and 24 November 2020 on the heels of impeccable intelligence reports indicating that the 2 camps, with their clusters of huts, were among the locations being used by the terrorists-affiliated armed bandits to store their sophisticated weapons and plan attacks. Aerial surveillance missions also established pattern-of-life evidence of the presence of black attire-wearing terrorists at the 2 locations.

Consequently, the Air Component dispatched an appropriate force package of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets and helicopter gunships, which engaged the 2 locations in successive passes, destroying portions of the camps, including their storage facilities, which were seen engulfed in flames. HUMINT sources later confirmed that no fewer than 37 bandits were neutralized at Dunya while many more were killed at Birnin Kogo.

Meanwhile Also In continuation of aggressive clearance operation to stamp out banditry and other criminal activities in the North Central zone of the country, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE have continued to record more successes.
The defence Headquarters says on the 26 November 2020, Following credible intelligence reports on the hideout of some notorious elements who were alleged to be terrorising Abaji general area of Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State, The Nigeria Troops promptly engaged them killing 3 while one locally made pistol and 11 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition were recovered. Aame day 26 November 2020, troops of Sector 3, carried out a dawn raid on the residence of some henchmen said to be behind recent clashes between herders and farmers at Atiyagiso community in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. During the operation, troops successfully apprehended 2 suspects namely Mr Abdulkareem and Mohammed Sani who confessed their involvement in the crime following which they were handed over to the police for further action.

General Enenche said The Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies remain resolute in the fight against banditry and other sundry crimes and will not relent until normalcy is restored to all troubled zones of the country.