Army kills scores of bandits in Zamfara, recovers rifles, ammunition

Troops of the 8 Division of the Nigerian Army have eliminated scores of bandits in Zamfara State after they were attacked by the gunmen while on fighting patrol.

The Director Army Public Relations, Brig-Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, said yesterday that the troops were attacked by well equipped bandits operating around Mayanchi-Dogon Karfe and Fagantama villages in Talata Marafa LGA of the state.

He said, however, that the bandits were overwhelmed by the superior firepower of the troops in the fierce encounter that ensued.

This, he said, “led to scores of bandits being neutralized. The troops also recovered one PKT rifle, large cache of ammunition and a motorcycle.

Nwachukwu said that troops neutralised five bandits in another encounter at Bingi village in Bungudu LGA also in Zamfara State.

He said that during the gun duel, the bandits withdrew in disarray, having sustained severe gunshot wounds while troops recovered one AK 47 rifle, one motorcycle and three mobile phones from the routed criminals.

The Chief of Army Staff, Major General Faruk Yahaya, urged the military to sustain the aggressive posture in order to defeat all criminal elements operating in the Northwest and other parts of the country.

Yahaya further urged communities in the Northwest to support the troops with useful information at all times to enhance anti-banditry operations.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) yesterday said that its base in Kaduna was never attacked by terrorists, contrary to reports on the social media.

In a statement, the Director Public Relations and Information Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said the speculation was the handiwork of merchants of fake news.

He said occupants of the base are going about their normal businesses.

According to the statement, “merchants of fake news are at it again. This time around, their focus is on the premier Nigerian Air Force Base at Kaduna, which they claimed came under terrorist attack in the early hours of today, 26 June, 2021.

“Members of the public should please disregard the news as it is entirely false. There was nothing of such as the inhabitants of the entire Base are going about their normal activities and duties without any threat whatsoever.”