From Molly Kilete and Esther Akwete, Abuja

The Defence Headquarters said its troops have eliminated more than 101 terrorists and bandits in various operations in the North West and North Central in the last two weeks.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadami, who made the disclosure yesterday, in Abuja, at the bi-weekly news briefing on the operations of the armed forces, said the soldiers also arrested two suspected fake National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) officials, who had visited the Gagamari IDP camp in Niger Republic, to register non-Nigerians in the camp.

He listed items recovered from the fake NIN staffs to include National Identification Number (NIN) registration machine, printing machine, laminating machine, one computer tracking machine and one generator set, among others.  Danmadami further disclosed that two notorious bandits, Kabiru Mania and Abubakar, surrendered to troops alongside some of their foot soldiers at Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara, during the period.

He said the surrendered andits were responsible for series of kidnapping and robbery incidents, as well as terrorist activities in Zamfara and part of Katsina State in the past. He further disclosed that four AK-47 rifles, two hand grenades, 19 rounds of 7.62mm NATO belted, 61 rounds of 7.62mm special, 13 links of 7.62mm NATO, 10 rounds of 5.86mm ammunition, four bandolier, three canisters, eight magazines, among other items were recovered from them.

The defence spokesman said the troops also raided the camp of a notorious bandits’ leader at Gando forest in Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara on October 18, and recovered rustled livestock.

Danmadami added that troops also neutralised 10 terrorists and arrested seven suspected terrorists collaborators in other operations during the period, while 32 civilians were rescued. He said an air interdiction operation was carried out on terrorists enclave, Maudi Maudi, at Tsora hill in Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State on October 11.

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“Feedback revealed that over 14 terrorists were neutralised in the air bombardment, while others survived the strike with injuries.”

The defence spokesman added that another air bombardment carried out on October 14, neutralised over 30 terrorists and destroyed their armoury. He said the air attack followed an intelligence report of bandits’ plan to converge on the residence of a notorious bandits’ leader, Lawali Gudau, aka Dogo Damina, for a ceremony at Koli village in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara.

In North Central, Danmadami said the troops of Operation Safe Haven neutralised seven criminals, arrested 40 suspects and rescued 28 civilians in different operations in Plateau and Kaduna states.

He said the troops of Operation Whirl Stroke had, during the weeks in focus, arrested five terrorists, neutralised one, rescued two civilians and recovered one AK-47 rifle.

He said troops of Operation Restore Sanity arrested two suspected informants and bandits’ collaborators at Kwaita village in Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, adding that suspects were major suppliers of Premium Motor Spirit and other sundry items to bandits in the general area.

Danmadami said all the recovered items, arrested criminals and rescued civilians have been handed over to the relevant authority for further action.