Troops of Operation Forest Sanity have rescued seven people who were kidnapped by bandits in Birnin Gwari and Chikun local government areas of Kaduna State.
The victims were rescued during a military operation.
According to the Kaduna Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, the troops came under fire from bandits while on patrol along the Birnin Gwari-Gayam-Kuriga-Manini axis.
He said that they, however, returned fire and promptly subdued the bandits, who fled into the forests, leaving behind the captives in their custody.
The Commissioner gave the names of the rescued victims as Joseph Ishaku, John Bulus, Gloria Shedrack, and her four children: Jimre Shedrack, Jonathan Shedrack Angelina Shedrack, and Abigail Shedrack.
Kaduna has been a target for kidnappers in recent times.
At least three people have been killed by bandits who attacked some communities in Birnin Gwari local government area of kaduna State.
The victims were said to be farmers who were working in their farms on Saturday when the bandits attacked.
Although security agencies are yet to confirm the attack, the chairman, Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressives Union, Ishaq Kasai, said that the bandits abducted 22 people and snatched motorcycles.
According to him, at about 7pm on Saturday, September 24, the bandits invaded Hayin Gada of Damari Community in Kazage Ward, they killed two locals and kidnapped 12 persons.
They also looted shops in the same community during the attack.
Elsewhere on the same day, another group of bandits attacked a farm centre located along Birnin-Gwari- Kaduna road, killing one person and later took six people away.
The bandits also kidnapped four others at Dajin JANGALI and seized three motorcycles from farmers at Kamfanin Doka area.
Meanwhile, the Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressives Union has observed with serious concern the way terrorists have continued to invade various communities and looting goods at shops unchallenged.
The union however called on relevant authorities to intensify effort towards combating terrorist activities in Birnin-Gwari LGA especially at this early crop harvesting period.
The Commander Special Task Force Operation SAFE HAVEN (OPSH) and General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division Nigerian Army (NA) Major General Ibrahim Ali on Saturday 10 September 2022 Inaugurated a 20 man crisis intervention committee to assist the troops in tackling communal crisis and criminalities in Sanga Local Government area of Kaduna State.
Delivering his remarks, the Commander noted the constitutional responsibility of the security agencies to protecting lives and properties of the citizens which he said is achievable through support and cooperation of the people. He said security is everybody’s business that requires collective efforts of everyone for meaningful development to strive.
General Ali further revealed that the inauguration of the committee is one amongst many none kinetic measures employed by OPSH to deliver on its mandate of peaceful coexistence and security of communities in its area of operation. He charged the committee members to be just, fair and neutral in discharging their responsibilities.
Addressing the troops, the Commander warned that any personnel found performing illegal duties will face the full wrath of the law. He charged them to always discharge their duties professionally.
Speaking during a visit to the District Head of Sanga, the Etum Gwantu, His Royal Highness, Reverend Joel Galadima reaffirmed the commitment of community leaders towards supporting security agencies.
He said communities in Sanga have recently witnessed tremendous peace as a result of the increased activities of OPSH in the area.
A front view of the NDA Headquarters in Kaduna State.
Troops of the Nigerian Army have killed several bandits during a clearance operation in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna state.
During the operation, a notorious bandit, Boderi Isiya, narrowly escaped being neutralized, while his deadly second in command, Musti, and several other fighters were gunned down by the troops.
A statement by the Kaduna state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said Musti and Boderi were responsible for the security breach at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, kidnapping of students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, and the Emir of Bungudu and several other citizens last year.
He explained that a painstaking check with credible human intelligence sources further confirmed that Boderi and his terror group had a bad day in the hands of the combat-ready troops.
According to the report, the troops engaged the bandits around the Tollgate General Area of Chikun local government, and while the bandits scrambled in retreat, they ran into another ambush laid by the troops in Sabon Gida General Area.
Aruwan said that corpses and weapons were recovered at the scene, while some of the terrorists eventually died from bullet wounds.
The Commissioner further disclosed that Boderi’s deadly second in command, one Musti, was among those identified to have been eliminated, alongside one Yellow Mai-Madrid and one Dan-Katsinawa, with others yet to be identified. While some of the terrorists are battling life-threatening wounds.
Meanwhile, Governor Nasir El-Rufai has praised the troops for the commendable feat under the leadership of the General Officer Commanding, One Division, Major General T.A. Lagbaja, being the latest notable breakthroughs recorded since he took command.
Troops of 1 Division have killed three bandits along Sabon Birni, Dogondawa-Kuyelo and Farin Ruwa area of Kaduna State.
The Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying the bandits were neutralised during an operation on Saturday.
Although Nwachukwu could not confirm the total number of bandits that ran into the troops, he, however, stated that the development is in the army’s renewed efforts to wipe out banditry and terrorism in the north-western region.
Items recovered from the criminals include two AK 47 rifles, nine magazines, seven Baofeng communication radios, one Tecno mobile phone, 120 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition, one power generator and a motorcycle.
“The dogged and highly motivated troops, while on a fighting patrol, came in contact with an unconfirmed number of bandits,” the statement read.
“The troops in the ensuing shoot out, eliminated 3 of the terrorists and recovered two AK 47 rifles, nine magazines, seven Baofeng communication radios, one Tecno mobile phone, 120 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition, one power generator and a motorcycle.
Reacting, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya commended the troops for their gallantry and urged them not to relent until banditry is eradicated in the region.
Similarly, the General Officer Commanding 1 Division, Maj Gen Taoreed Lagbaja asked all law-abiding citizens to continue to support the troops and other security agencies with credible and actionable information.
The information, Lagbaja stated, would assist the troops in their operations against the criminal elements.
Kaduna is one of the states worst hit by banditry who have unleashed several attacks, killing people while kidnapping several others.
Troops seen capturing the suspected bandits in Kaduna State on August 29, 2022. Credit: Army
Troops have killed a bandit and captured three others alive in efforts to rid Kaduna State of banditry.
The Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, disclosed this in a terse statement on Tuesday.
He said the troops cleared bandits in Buruku, Udawa, Manini, Birnin Gwari, Doka, Maganda, Kuyello and Dogon Dawa communities in Kaduna State.
Nwachukwu stated that the incident happened on Monday while the soldiers were on a fighting patrol in the area, adding that some other bandits fled with various degrees of injuries.
“In the firefight that ensued during the engagements, the patrol team overpowered the bandits with superior firepower neutralizing, one of them, while three others were captured alive, as some of the criminal elements escaped with gunshot wounds,” the army spokesman said.
“A fighting patrol led by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Taoreed Lagbaja accompanied by a team of Operational commanders and operatives have cleared bandits in Buruku, Udawa, Manini, Birnin Gwari, Doka, Maganda, Kuyello and Dogon Dawa communities in Kaduna state, while on a fighting patrol on Monday 29 August 2022.”
Items recovered from the bandits include one AK-47 rifle, 27 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition and 18 motorcycles.
The army spokesman also urged members of the public, particularly health facilities and paramedics to watch out for persons who may be seeking medical attention for gunshot wounds.
Should they see any person with gunshot injuries, Nwachukwu asked healthcare facilities to please report to relevant security agencies.
Security operatives have arrested eight suspected bandits who have been terrorising residents of Mariri community in Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The arrest, according to the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, was carried out due to sustained intelligence gathering.
He disclosed that Troops of Operation Safe Haven acted on credible intelligence, and arrested seven members of the gang.
Aruwan gave the names of the suspects as, Musa Adamu, Abdullahi Usman, Suleiman Hasidu, Usman Jibril, Saidu Isah, Hassan Abdulhamid, and Idris Sani.
One Hajiya Bilkisu, a suspected accomplice, who had been housing the arrested persons, was unfortunately lynched to death by angry members of the community as she tried to escape.
Following the development, the Kaduna state government has urged security agencies to ensure a thorough investigation of the suspects, while also appealing to the citizens to avoid all forms of jungle justice and to give security agencies the needed cooperation to work in line with the dictates of the law.
The rescued persons were abducted in several Kaduna communities.
Following the ongoing military operation against bandits and terrorists in the northwest zone, troops of Operation Forest Sanity have raided a camp belonging to bandits at Kuriga and Manini communities, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
During the operation early Tuesday, the troops rescued six hostages who were kidnapped by bandits at different locations.
A statement by the Kaduna state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said the troops during the operation identified bandits and terrorist enclaves within the council and successfully engaged the criminals in a gun duel.
Aruwan listed the freed persons as Sahura Hamisu, Ramlatu Umar, Saudatu Ibrahim, Maryam Shittu, Fatima Shuaibu, and Khadijah Mohammed who was kidnapped along with her baby.
The rescued persons, according to him, have been reunited with their families.
Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Government has expressed excitement about the rescue development, and also commended the government, military, police, and other security forces for the successful round of operations.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has neutralised a terrorist leader Alhaji Shanono following an operation in Kaduna State.
NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet said this in a statement issued on Wednesday after the Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Oladayo Amao’s visit to the State.
“Indeed, following receipt of intelligence on 9 August 2022 that a well-known terrorists’ kingpin, Alhaji Shanono, had scheduled a meeting with his foot soldiers at Ukambo, a village about 131 km from Kaduna, the Air Component of Operation Whirl Punch dispatched aircraft for interdiction mission at the location,” the statement added.
“Overhead the location, terrorists were sighted under clusters of trees at the foot of Ukambo high ground and after ensuring the absence of civilian settlements within the location, the crew received the authorization to strike.
“Feedback from local sources disclosed that over 30 rifles and 20 motorbikes were destroyed while about 18 terrorists, including Alhaji Shanono, were neutralized while others sustained various degrees of injuries. Sources also revealed that not less than 26 kidnapped victims earlier held by the terrorists were released as a result of the airstrike.”
In other strikes in the northeast region, NAF said “one of such operations was conducted on 6 August 2022 at Gazuwa, about 1.2 kilometers to Gargash, after intelligence revealed that infighting for relevance and supremacy was underway between terrorists of the Shekau faction and terrorists aligned to Islamic State of West Africa (ISWAP). The state of confusion and disorder among the two terrorist factions thus presented an opportunity for a surprise strike by NAF pilots which was carried out using 2 aircraft types.
“It should be noted that though the map coordinates led the pilots to the exact site of the infighting, the location also had an ISWAP flag hoisted on the structure and three solar panels on the rooftop.
“Intelligence received and corroborated by local sources revealed the strike was a success as the terrorists did not anticipate it with several eliminated and others injured.”
The NAF spokesman quoted the Chief of Air Staff as calling on the commanders to stay focused.
“We can’t afford to let down our guards,” he told them.
Terrorists have abducted a woman and her four children in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The woman is the daughter-in-law of the village head of Yakawada, Alhaji Rilwanu Saidu, who is the elder brother of the Chairman of the Northern Elders’ Forum( NEF), Professor Ango Abdullahi.
Police authorities have not commented on the incident, but a close relative of the family, Umar Sani, told Channels Television that the woman, Ramatu Samaila, was abducted along with her children from their residence during the attack which occurred on Tuesday night.
He said the bandits in their large numbers invaded Yakawada village and started shooting sporadically before moving to the village head’s residence.
The bandits also kidnapped some residents of the community including one Abubakar Mijinyawa and his two wives, Aisha and Hajara.
The two wives who are both nursing mothers were reportedly taken away along with their babies while a local patrol guard, Aminu Lawal, was killed by the attackers during the attack.
The kidnapping of five members of Professor Abdullahi’s family comes almost four months after his son, Sadiq Abdullahi, and 61 others were abducted by terrorists who attacked an Abuja-Kaduna-bound train on March 28.
Commander of the Vigilance Service, Retired Brigadier General Umar Ibrahim, speaks to journalists in Kaduna on August 10, 2022.
Over 100 suspects have been arrested by operatives of the Kaduna State Vigilance Service in the last six months for various offences ranging from banditry, kidnapping and illegal drug Trafficking.
This is according to the commander of the Vigilance Service, Retired Brigadier General Umar Ibrahim, during a parade of three suspected illicit drug suppliers who were arrested in various parts of Kaduna State.
“Generally, we have arrested over 100 ranging from bandits to carriers of hard drugs. Of course, we have the strength, all we need is motivation from the public,” he said.
“The government is doing its best to assist KADVS to fight terrorism, together with other security agencies. We are doing our bits, it is not something we will come out and tell you what we have been doing.”
While handing over the suspects and the illicit substances to the representative of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in his office, Ibrahim said the arrests were made by his men following a tip-off about the nefarious activities of the drug traffickers.
He also explained that the suspects were nabbed during sting operations across the 23 local government areas of Kaduna State, adding that there is a correlation between banditry and drug trafficking.
The Commander also asked residents of Kaduna State to cooperate with security agencies for the fight against kidnapping and banditry to be won.
Seven more kidnapped passengers of the March 28 train attack in Kaduna state have regained their freedom.
The victims were released on Wednesday morning after spending 135 days in the custody of the terrorists.
It is however not clear if any ransom was paid to the terrorists for their release.
Although the police authorities are yet to confirm the development, a member of the negotiating team, Tukur Mamu told Channels Television that six of the released hostages are members of the same family, which include a couple and their four children.
Some of the train passenger victims regained their freedom in Kaduna State on August 10, 2022.
The father of the four kids, Abubakar, is the son of a former Military Administrator of Kano and Benue States, to Mamu, Major General Chris Garba, and also a staff of the National Assembly Commission.
The terrorists also released a 60-year-old woman, Hajia Aisha Hassan who was said to have been freed due to life-threatening health challenges that deteriorated recently.
The names of the six family members that were released are Abubakar Idris Garba who is the father of the four kids, his wife Maryama Abubakar Bobbo, and their eldest son, Ibrahim Abubakar Garba who is 10 years old.
Others include Fatima Abubakar Garba, 7 years, Imran Abubakar Garba, 5 years old, and youngest Zainab Abubakar Garba who is only one and half years.
So far, 42 victims have regained their freedom. The number of those still in captivity now stands at 35.
Gunmen had on March 28 blown up the rail track, killing some and abducting scores of passengers, a situation that called for serious concern about the safety of the nation’s trains.
Wednesday’s release is coming a few days after five other victims the abducted Kaduna-bound train was freed by the terrorists.
The victims freed are Professor Mustapha Umar Imam, who is a medical doctor at Usman Dan Fodio University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Akibu Lawal, Abubakar Ahmed Rufai Mukthar Shu’aibu, and Sidi Aminu Sharif.
They secured their freedom on August 2, bringing succour to their respective families.
Channels Television gathered that they were released by the terrorists at a location inside the forest along the Kaduna – Abuja highway. From there, they were picked up by their relatives.
Worried about the situation, the Nigeria Railway Corporation temporarily suspended activities, with President Muhammadu Buhari directing security agencies to rescue the victims.
