By Ismail Auwal
Nigerian Defence Headquarters said that troops operating in North West and North Central regions have eliminated 15 bandits and arrested 48 in 14 days.
This was disclosed by the Defence spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Bernard Onyeuko, on Thursday in Abuja while briefing newsmen on the operations of armed forces between October 29 and November 11.
Onyeuko noted that 42 kidnapped victims were rescued in different operations across the zones during the period under review.
“Under operation Hadarin Daji, troops carried out extensive land and air operations across the theatre leading to the arrest of 16 criminal elements, killing off 13 bandits and rescuing of six kidnapped civilians in the north-west,” he said.
He said 12 assorted arms and 77 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition were recovered within the period.
He said the general security situation in the Plateau had been relatively calm within the period in spite of some pockets of incidents recorded in some locations.
He added that troops rescued 33 kidnapped victims from bandits and arrested 23 criminal elements within the period.
Under Operation Whirl Stroke, Onyeuko said that troops continued to carry out clearance and raid operations in parts of Benue and Nasarawa states leading to arrest of nine bandits, killing of two and rescuing of three victims.