Troops of the Nigerian Army have eliminated scores of bandits in ongoing operations across communities in Kogi state.
In a statement on Sunday, Hassan Abdullahi, Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 12 Brigade, Lokoja, said the operation codenamed Egwu A Tite II began on September 1.
Abdullahi said troops of the 126th battalion, supported by other hybrid forces, engaged bandits in the Tunga general area, where two were killed during a firefight.
He added that Kasim Umar Sidi, commander of 12 brigade and force commander of Operation Accord III, led further exploitation of the area which resulted in the destruction of several bandits’ settlements.
Abdullahi said the troops continued to dominate the area through patrols and ambushes.
He added that on September 2, troops acting on credible intelligence and supported by the 405 helicopter combat training group launched an air raid on Ankomi, neutralising “scores of fleeing bandits.”
The spokesperson said clearance operations were also carried out on September 3 in Aleke, Ungwan Soni and Ungwan Nyaba communities, during which three kidnap victims, Pabo Suleiman and his two children, were rescued and reunited with their families.
He said five locally made dane guns were recovered during the operation.
On September 5, Abdullahi said the troops engaged bandits near Tunga, killing Kachalla Bala, a notorious commander, and five others.
He added that the troops also conducted a successful ambush along a supply route at Agbede–Adankoo bridge, neutralising a logistics courier.
Items recovered included a motorcycle, two mobile phones, and one AK-47 magazine loaded with 20 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.