Troops under the Operation Whirl Punch have neutralised 14 bandits and recovered 422 cows andsheep between October and November, the acting Director of Defence Information (DDI), Brig.-Gen. John Agim, said on Monday in Kaduna.
Agim told a news conference on Operation 777 update, launched by the Defence Headquarters on Oct. 8 to restructure and strengthen ongoing military operations nationwide.
According to him, operation Whirl Punch conducted by troops of 1 Division of the Nigerian Army is part of Operation 777.
He said that “prior to the launch of Operation 777, terrorists and criminals devised different means of evading ongoing operations in different theatres.
“So far, however, troops have neutralised 14 notorious bandits, cattle rustlers and kidnappers.
“Likewise, several sophisticated arms, ammunition and large herds have been recovered from the bandits, kidnappers and cattle rustlers.
“The troops also recovered over 331 cows from rustlers in Birnin Gwari and 132 cows in Birnin Yero areas of Kaduna State.
“A total of 49 cows and 42 sheep were also recovered on the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway, all recovered animals were handed over to their owners after screening.”
The spokesman further disclosed that 31 persons (18 children and 13 adults) were rescued from kidnappers within the area of operation.
He said “during the period, five bandits and two informants were also arrested and they were currently assisting security agencies in the ongoing investigation.
“Unfortunately, two soldiers were wounded and currently receiving treatment at the military hospital in Kaduna.”
Agim added that two civilian vigilance group members assisting troops in the operation were killed in action by bandits’ fire.
(NAN)
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