TROOPS of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation Hadarin Daji, have neutralised 10 terrorists and rescued nine kidnapped victims between Zamfara and Katsina States.
They also recovered arms and ammunition including operational motorcycles and communication gadgets.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Force Information Officer, Cpt. Ibrahim Yahaya.
Yahaya said that the feat was recorded in recent dry season clearance operations commanded by the General Officer Commanding, 8 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj-Gen Godwin Mutkut.
Yahaya said that on January 3, 2024, the combined troops of the OPHD conducted an offensive operation in identified terrorist enclaves at Batsari and Safana Local Government Areas of Katsina State, neutralising 10 of the terrorists while others fled with gunshot wounds.
He maintained that the troops also recovered one AK-47 rifle, ammunition, seven Dane guns, three locally fabricated guns, and other dangerous weapons as well as communication gadgets.
Mobile phones, military uniforms, and four motorcycles were recovered and destroyed by the military.
“Similarly, on the same day, troops of Operation Hadarin Daji, operating in Zamfara State, conducted a search and rescue operation at Dansadau and Dandalla villages in Maru LG of Zamfara State.
During the operation, nine kidnapped victims were rescued including five women and four babies,” he said.
Yahaya added that the victims were abandoned by the terrorists who fled after a gun duel with the resilient troops.
“The rescued victims were immediately reunited with their families at Magami in Zamfara State,” Said Yahaya.
The Commander, Maj-Gen Godwin Mutkut, commended the efforts of the troops and urged them to maintain the tempo.
This newspaper reports that troops of 1 Division of the Nigerian Army deployed at Birnin Yero in Igabi LG, Kaduna State, rescued 11 civilians kidnapped at Anguwan Maharba and Dandami villages by bandits.
However, two of the abducted victims were killed by the bandits before the arrival of the troops.
Also, men of Operation Hadarin Jadi destroyed terrorists’ enclaves, neutralised scores of them and recovered arms and ammunition in Zamfara and Sokoto States.