The military says troops deployed in Operation Whirl Punch have rescued 31 people from suspected bandits and kidnappers within its area of responsibility.
Addressing a press conference on Monday in Kaduna, acting Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General John Agim, disclosed that 14 suspects have been killed since the military launched the operation in October.
He also said no fewer than 500 livestock have been recovered and returned to their owners while troops recovered several weapons and motorcycles among other items from the suspects.
Read the full statement below;
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to this briefing on activities of the Operation WHIRL PUNCH being conducted by the troops of 1 Division Nigerian Army (NA).
This operation is part of the ‘Operation 777’ which is being conducted and coordinated simultaneously nationwide under the auspices of the Defence Headquarters.
Prior to the launch of Op 777, terrorists and criminals devised different means of evading ongoing operations in different theatres of operations.
However, since the commencement of Op 777 on 8 October 2018, significant and modest operational successes have been recorded across the nation.
READ ALSO: 14 Bandits, Others Killed In Operation Whirl Punch – Military
Under Operation WHIRL PUNCH, 1 Division NA is tasked to provide security and restore normalcy along Kaduna – Abuja Expressway and Birnin Gwari and its environs as well as Niger State, which was hitherto devastated by the activities of bandits, kidnappers, armed robbers and cattle rustlers.
In preparation for the conduct of the operations, additional platforms, establishment of new military/Police formations/units, and injection of more troops were carried out by the Defence Headquarters to ensure the success of this operation.
There is Nigerian Army Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Birnin Gwari, which will soon metamorphose into 98 Bn in line with 2016 NA Order of Battle (ORBAT).
The Nigerian Air Force also plans to establish FOB to support Operation WHIRL PUNCH in Birnin Gwari general area, Niger State and the entire operation WHIRL PUNCH Area of Responsibility.
The troops of 1 Division NA, Nigerian Air Force aircraft, Police and other security agencies are conducting series of raids, ambushes, patrols, roadblocks and air strikes against the identified camps/hideouts of bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements within the operational areas.
The general areas where our troops operate are characterised by thick forests such as the Kamuku, Kuduru, Birnin Gwari and Alawa Forests; the area also has several high grounds, which bandits and kidnappers use as staging areas and camps to perpetrate their heinous acts.
To surmount these terrain challenges, we have also devised ingenious ways of deploying our troops and conducting operations.
So far, in this operation, 14 notorious bandits, cattle rustlers and kidnappers have been neutralised.
Likewise, several assorted sophisticated arms, ammunition and large herds of cattle have been recovered from the bandits, kidnappers and cattle rustlers.
A total of 18 AK47 rifles, two pistols, three mobile phones, one Motorola, large cache’ of ammunition and 32 Motorcycles have been recovered.
The troops also recovered over 331 cows from rustlers in Birnin Gwari area and 132 cows in Birnin Yero areas respectively.
Along the Kaduna – Abuja Expressway 49 cows and 42 sheep have been recovered. All the recovered animals were handed over to their screened and profiled owners. Additionally, a total of 31 persons (18 Children and 13 Adults) were rescued from kidnappers within the Area of Operation.
During this period also five bandits and two informants were arrested, and they are currently assisting the security agencies in the ongoing investigation.
Unfortunately, two soldiers were wounded and are currently receiving treatment at a military hospital in Kaduna.
Two civilian vigilante assisting troops in the operation were also killed in action by bandit’s fire.
Through these special operations, relative peace has been restored and hence, the troops dominate the operating environment, thereby creating a safe and conducive atmosphere for socio-economic activities to thrive.
It is evident that now the local traders, motorists, residents of villages/settlements in these general areas are conducting their businesses mostly unmolested.
The returned of relative peace and security was made possible through joint operations and synergy of efforts by the security agencies and cooperative posture of the locals and vigilante’ groups.
Let me also address a recent allegation of killing 74 cows belonging to Fulanis at Riyawa in Sabon Birni area.
The Riyawa general area has been notorious as a den of bandits, cattle rustlers and kidnappers. Severally, troops had encounters with the bandits who use the difficult terrain and knowledge of the ground to escape.
On 17 November 2018, based on intelligence, troops conducted a raid on bandits’ camps in the area. The bandits were alerted by their dogs.
The observed current practice of the bandits is to use their cows as a shield to escape while firing at troops.
This was the case on 17 November 2018 which was not a deliberate act by the troops to kill the cows.
Gentlemen of the Press, our troops were recently deployed to restore and maintain peace in the recent Kaduna crisis, the proactive deployment, was applauded for its critical impact on preventing spread of crisis beyond Kaduna State.
It is equally important to state that, as part of 1 Division’s Community Engagement Programmes (CEP) during Operation 777, medical outreach programme was carried out in Sayen Lemu Village in Zaria LGA.
Worthy to mention also is the renovation of 2 blocks of classrooms recently in Sayen Lemu Village.
As part of the CEP also, the troops in Kidandan area of Giwa LGA, Kaduna State now escort farmers to enable them to harvest their crops.
This is coming in the aftermath of recent bandits attacking and killing farmers in their farms in the general area.
Let me use this opportunity to assure the law-abiding citizens that the Armed Forces and other security agencies will continue to ensure the protection of lives and properties of Nigerians.
Operation 777 is designed to consolidate on the achievement of the existing operations so as to enhance the safety and promote socio-economic activities of Nigerians.
We will continue to solicit the support and cooperation of the media towards successful conduct of the
Operation 777.
Thank you and God bless.
JOHN AGIM
Brigadier General
Acting Director Defence Information
19 November 2018.
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