Troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Kano have foiled a bandits’ attack and recovered 147 rustled animals during a successful operation along the Kano-Katsina border.
The operation, conducted by troops of the Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) with reinforcement from a Response Area, also led to the arrest of two suspected terrorists and the recovery of a motorcycle.
The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 3 Brigade Nigerian Army, Major Babatunde Zubairu, disclosed the development in a statement issued in Kano.
He said the troops acted on credible intelligence received at about 5:45 p.m. on 15 July, indicating that armed bandits were moving rustled livestock through the Yankamaye and Rimaye axis.
According to Zubairu, the troops quickly deployed to strategic crossing points commonly used by the criminals and intercepted them.
“During the ensuing exchange of gunfire, the troops overwhelmed the bandits, forcing them to abandon the rustled livestock and flee in disarray towards Katsina State,” he said.
The operation resulted in the recovery of 97 cattle and 50 sheep. Zubairu said all the recovered cattle had been returned to their rightful owners, while efforts were ongoing to identify the owners of the recovered sheep.
He added that two suspected terrorists were arrested during the operation, while one motorcycle was also recovered.
However, the army spokesman disclosed that a local vigilante, Mallam Yusuf Adamu, 47, from Yanchibi Village, was killed after being caught in the crossfire during the operation.
The Nigerian Army expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and the Yanchibi community over the incident.
Zubairu said troops had continued to comb the area in pursuit of the fleeing bandits with the aim of apprehending them and denying criminal elements freedom of operation in the border communities.
Commending the troops, the Commander of 3 Brigade Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Saka Jimoh, praised their vigilance, professionalism and courage, urging them to sustain the offensive until all bandits and other criminal elements operating in the area were neutralised.
Jimoh also appreciated residents for their continued support and appealed to members of the public to continue providing timely and credible intelligence to security agencies, stressing that community cooperation remained vital to the success of ongoing operations against banditry and other criminal activities in the region.
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