The Nigerian Army said troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation Hadarin Daji, have neutralised 10 terrorists and rescued nine kidnap victims in Katsina and Zamfara states.
Force Information Officer, Cpt. Ibrahim Yahaya, disclosed this in a Thursday statement.
The force spokesman said the feat was recorded in recent dry season clearance operations commanded by the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 8 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Godwin Mutkut.
According to the statement, arms, ammunition and operational motorcycle and communication gadgets were recovered during the exercise.
“Notably, on the 3rd January 2024, the combined troops of the OPHD conducted an offensive operation in identified terrorist enclaves at Batsari and Safana LGAs of Katsina state, neutralising 10 of the terrorists while others fled with gunshot wounds.
“The troops also recovered 1 AK-47 rifle, ammunition, 7 Dane guns, 3 locally fabricated guns, and other dangerous weapons as well as communication gadgets, mobile phones and military uniforms while 4 motorcycles recovered and destroyed insitu.
“Similarly, on the same day, troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI operating in Zamfara state, conducted a search and rescue operation at Dansadau and Dandalla villages in Maru LGA of Zamfara state.
“During the operation, 9 kidnapped victims were rescued which includes; 5 women and 4 babies. The victims were abandoned by the terrorists who fled after a gun duel with the resilient troops. The rescued victims were immediately reunited with their families at Magami,” the statement read in part.
The Commander, Joint Task Force, North West, Operation Hadarin Daji, Maj.-Gen. Godwin Mutkut, commended the efforts of the troops and urged them to maintain the tempo.