Troops of “Operation Hadarin Daji” have recovered 11 AK47, riffles, 14 Dane guns and 2,437 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition from bandits since the inception of the military outfit to date, its commandant, Maj.-Gen. Jelil Jide Ogunlade, said yesterday.
According to Maj.-Gen. Ogunlade, the troops also recovered two pump action rifles, two locally made pistols, 2,164 cattle and duly returned them to their owners.
The outfit also neutralised 20 armed bandits and arrested 15 suspected armed bandits, including collaborators.
The troops, the military chief said, also rescued 49 kidnapped victims.
He promised that his men will lay siege to bandits in Zamfara State by confining them to the bush and taking the fight to their den.
The force commandant added that taking the drastic action becomes necessary because of the unwillingness of the bandits to show they were ready to surrender as the incumbent governor, Dr. Bello Muhammad, had offered them.
“The Zamfara State governor has done wonderfully well by extending amnesty to the bandits, but instead of succumbing to the offer, the bandits unleashed over 20 attacks under 24 hours.”
He said confining the bandits to the bush, where they belong, is initiated with a view to curtailing collateral damage associated with most military operations against opponents worldwide.
Maj.-Gen. Ogunlade stressed that an onslaught that has never been launched in the history of the fight against banditry in Zamfara State will be soon be effected.
He warned the bandits to surrender before it is too late.
The commandant added that the bandits, whenever there is an onslaught, mix with people of communities inhabited by innocent people.
He cautioned the people of the state to be on alert and inform security officials whenever they find new faces among them.