*64 suspects, cattle rustlers also arrested

FEMI ADI / Kaduna

Troops of  the One Mechanised  Division of the Nigerian Army  killed 10  suspected terrorists in various joint operations tagged “Operation Restore Peace II” in the North west zone of the country.

The troops, which  also arrested  27 suspects bandits  with lots of weapons of different calibers,
recovered several stolen  cattle, sheep and goats after  an expanded security  operation was carried out in Kaduna and its environs .

Deputy Director, Army Public Relations ,  One  Division Headquaters in Kaduna, Colonel Usman Abdul who disclosed this in a press statement made available to TheNEWS today said  the troops  during military operations,  equally arrested 64 suspected terrorists  and bandits  that have already been handed over to the Police and the Department of State Security for further investigations and prosecution.

According to the statement ,  7, 119 cattle, sheep and goats were  recovered from rustlers and bandits who have been terrorising people from the zone, comprising  Jigawa, Katsina,Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Kaduna and Kano as well  as Niger and Kogi states in the north-central.

While stating how  the operations were carried out by a combined team of Nigerian Army, Nigeria Air Force, Police, DSS and Customs personnel,  it said all the suspects were handed over to Zamfara DSS and the Police Command while the animals were handed over to Zamfara state government officials.

It equally  revealed further that in  similar  joint operations,  covering Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states , the troops did recover a total of 2011 animals ,4 suspects arrested and 10 bandits who were killed during encounters during which  8 assorted weapons were recovered.

It said arrested suspects have been  handed over to Katsina police command, while animals recovered were handed over to Katsina state government officials.

Colonel Abdul in the statement also mentioned  that  since the commencement of the operations , confidence has been restored to the locals who have since resumed their normal farming and commercial activities.

Meanwhile , the army division gave assurance that the army    and other security agencies  in Kaduna have through various operations been able to reduce and subdue activities of bandits and insurgents.

However , the Army Division  warned  supporters and sympathizers of bandits to desist from their activities as the Division is poised to uproot them from the zone.