Troops of the Nigerian Army 1 Division Kaduna, under Operation Harbin Kunama III, have arrested 61 bandits and neutralized 24 others, the General Officer Commanding the Division, Major.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, has said.
Yahaya, who made the disclosure at a news briefing in Kaduna on Wednesday, said that 20 kidnapped victims were rescued in the course of the operation.
According to the GOC, a total of 478 livestock consisting of 374 cattle, 104 sheep and goats, 56 assorted arms and 24 motorcycles, as well as N1.1 million and some fake American dollars were also recovered from the suspects.
The exercise commenced on May 10 as directed by the Chief of Army Staff following incessant armed banditry, kidnapping and others violent criminal activities in the North West.
Yahaya explained that the target of the operation was to block strategic locations at the fringes contiguous to epicentre of banditry activities in Zamfara.
It was “to contain and neutralize the fleeing bandits from forests in Zamfara, Katsina and Kebbi while still conducting other activities across our area of responsibility in support of civil authority,” he added.