Troops Kill 15 Cattle Rustlers, Armed Bandits in Zamfara

•  Navy nabs N’Delta militant kingpin, clamps down on criminal elements

Senator Iroegbu in Abuja

The military engaged in Operation Sara Daji has killed 15 cattle rustlers and armed bandits in parts of Zamfara State.

The Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, in a statement yesterday, said troops of 223 Battalion, 1 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, have continued to raid and clear suspected livestock rustlers and armed bandits camps in Zamfara State.

Usman said the troops “during a raid on suspected armed bandits camp at Dumburum forest, Zurmi Local Government Area, killed seven livestock rustlers and recovered large quantity of ammunition and a pair of military camouflage uniform”.

In the same vein, he said the troops also cleared suspected armed bandits camp at Bagega general area in Anka Local Government Area.

He said: “Although the bandits managed to escape, an abandoned motorcycle was recovered and the camp was destroyed.

“The troops also proceeded and cleared livestock rustlers and armed bandits camps located at Gando forest, near Baruba village in Bukkuyum Local Government Area of the state. The troops killed eight armed bandits during an exchange of gunfire.”

The army spokesman said troops have also mobilised to Kalgo village in Maru Local Government Area in pursuit of armed bandits that attacked the village.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Navy has in its ongoing efforts to eliminate unwholesome activities perpetuated by criminals in the Niger Delta, arrested one of the top leaders of a group which goes by the name Bakassi Strike Force (BSF).

The Director of Information (DINFO), Commodore Christian Ezekobe, in a statement yesterday, named the suspected militant leader as Mr. Uduak Etim Thompson, also known as ‘Sangata’.

Ezekobe said the Sangata was arrested on September 12, 2016 at his hideout in Calabar by a joint team from Nigerian Navy Ship Victory and Defence Intelligence Agency.

“It would be recalled that some top members of the BSF had earlier been arrested,” he stated.
In a related development, he said the patrol team deployed by Naval Outpost (NOP) Ikuru arrested four suspected notorious sea robbers who were alleged to be responsible for several attacks and robbery incidences at Oyorokoro, Ataba, Kaa and Oyorokoro communities in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.

According to him, the gang was alleged to have particularly attacked market women on September 4, 2016 at Oyorokoro Community.

Ezekobe said the arrests, brought to the fore the commitment of the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies to stamp out the menace of criminal brigandage in the region.
He stated that “investigation into these untoward activities have commenced and the perpetrators will be handed over to prosecuting agencies for further action.”