Army foils bandits planned massacre of villagers in Zamfara
Troops of Operation Fansan Yamma (OPFY) have foiled bandits planned to attack villagers in Zamfara State.
The troops killed dozens of terrorists in a coordinated air and ground assault at Gando Forest in Bukkuyum Local Government Area, Zamfara State.
An attempted ambush by Boko Haram terrorists in Kareto was thwarted by troops from Operation HADIN KAI’s 145 Battalion, leading to the recovery of weapons and killing of insurgents.
Sources said the ambush was orchestrated on Monday.
The terrorists first detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and opened fire on the troops.
Also, in the Northeast, no fewer than 592 terrorists have been killed and 372 assets destroyed in several airstrikes by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), in the past eight months.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, made this known yesterday during a visit to Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, in Maiduguri.
In a statement, the Information Officer of the OPFY, Captain David Adewusi, said: ”The OPFY troops will continue to hunt the adversaries down anywhere they gather or move,’’ the statement read.
Captain Adewusi also said the operation followed a credible intelligence showing convergence of a large number of terrorists loyal to the late Halilu Buzu and Alhaji Beti in the forest, where they were preparing to launch a reprisal attack on Bukkuyum farming communities in Zamfara.
Intelligence gatherings indicated that the assault was aimed at avenging their recent defeat in clashes with security forces and hybrid units where they suffered serious defects,’’ the statement noted.
The troops of OPFY under Sector 2 further intercepted and eliminated the terrorists who were fleeing from the aerial bombardment.
In Yobe and Borno states, the soldiers executed anti-ambush drills, outflanked the attackers, and killed scores of them.
They recovered a PKT automatic anti-aircraft machine gun, an AK-47 rifle, four AK-47 magazines, and a large quantity of 7.62 ammunition, among others.
In a separate operation, troops from the 233 Battalion and the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) of Sector II engaged terrorists at Sassawa village in Yobe State and killed two insurgents. They recovered one AK-47 rifle, an AK-47 magazine, and 23 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.
Zulum also called for more air power to degrade the Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters.
The governor made the appeal during a meeting.
Zulum, who acknowledged the Air Force’s contributions to security, including providing air cover for ground troops and humanitarian aid, however, reemphasised that more air power is needed, particularly in difficult terrains.
