The Nigerian Army have killed 37 bandits, rescued 80 kidnapped victims in a gun battle with bandits in Zamfara State. However, six soldiers were killed in the crossfire between the Army and the bandits in Bini Maru Local Government Area, Zamfara State.
The acting Information Officer of Operation Saharan Daji, Major Clement Abiade, acknowledged in a statement that the fireworks recorded death of 37 bandits and rescue of 80 kidnapped.
Abiade in the statement narrated that the soldiers were returning to their base after a long-range patrol before the incident occurred, adding that the victims comprise men, women and children, rescued inside Dumburum Forest during the mop-up operations conducted by troops between February 4 and 14.
The acting Information Officer of Operation Saharan Daji also said that six suspected bandits were killed while their allies were arrested and several weapons, ammunition, including rustled cattle were recovered from their camps.
The information officer recalled that bandits had carried out a series of attacks on communities in Zamfara last year, leaving hundreds of innocent people killed and many injured, while some were kidnapped.
He, however, said, “The intensity and redoubled efforts in the conduct of military activities in the past months seem to be yielding tremendous successes, leading to the killing of some of the bandits, recovery of guns, ammunition and rustled cattle.”