The Nigerian Army says it “neutralized” 220 bandits, rescued 642 kidnapped victims, foiled 167 banditry and 81 kidnapped attempts in the six months between June and December last year.
Acting Director Defence, Media Operations, Brigadier-General Bernard Onyeuko, disclosed this at a media briefing in Faskari Super Camp Four Wednesday.
General Onyeuko who was represented by the Nigerian Army Operations Media Coordinator, Colonel Aminu Ilyasu, said 197 bandits’ camps were also destroyed within the period.
He added that 73 AK 47 rifles, 194 dane guns and 53,200 ammunition were also recovered, as were 7,761 cows and 1,876 sheep.
According to Onyeuko, 335 suspected bandits, 326 illegal miners, 147 bandits informants and collaborators, 14 bandits arms suppliers, 24 rustled cattle marketers and 46 bandits logistics suppliers were similarly arrested.
He said that “since the flag-off of the exercise, significant improvements have been made in bringing peace and stability in the North West region as evident in the massive resumption of socio-economic activities with little or no threats to lives and property.
“The gallant troops of Operation SAHEL SANITY within the period under review carried out series of clearance operations, ambushes, farm and other aggressive confidence-building patrols within Sokoto, Katsina, Kebbi, Kaduna, Niger and Zamfara States”.
