Troops of Operation Fansan Yamma as well as the air component, conducted clearance operations along Shinkafi, Kagara, Fakai, Moriki, Maiwa and Chindo in Sokoto and Zamfara axis killing scores of terrorists.
Among those killed during the firepower was the son of a notorious terrorist leader, Bello Turji, on Fakai high ground where Turji and his lieutenants were hiding.
The younger Turji, whose age was not known but described as a combatant, was killed on Friday.
Director Defence Media Operations Major-General Edward Buba announced this Monday in a statement made available to Blueprint in Gusau, Zamfara state capital.
The intensity of troops firepower resulted in high terrorist casualties and their logistics hub destroyed, Buba said.
The statement further hinted that the operations resulted in the rescue of several kidnapped hostages held captive by Turji.
“The terrorist leader, Bello Turji, in a gross cowardly act escaped abandoning his son and combatants,” the statement said.
He said the troops also destroyed another terrorist kingpin camp known as Idi Mallam along Zango Kagara Forest, during which three terrorists were killed and another three others arrested as suspected collaborators.
“The troops recovered two machine guns, one AK47 Rifle with a magazine containing 11 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition.
Additionally, 61 rustled cattle, 44 sheep were rescued among other sundry items,” the statement said.
While maintaining that troops were sustaining the onslaught against the criminal elements, he said: “Overall, troops continue to demonstrate commitment to the safety and protection of all citizens across the country.”
*APC commends feats
Meanwhile, the Zamfara state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has commended the Nigerian military in partnership with all the other security agencies over the successes being recorded in eliminating bandits in the Northwest region.
The state publicity secretary of the party, Yusuf Idris, made the commendation in a statement issued to newsmen Monday in Gusau.
The party aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for giving the wherewithal to the military to smoothly carry out the operation which is being coordinated by the Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Mohammed Matawalle.
“We join other good citizens in celebrating these landmark achievements credited to the Tinubu led administration that saw the recent elimination of two notorious bandit kingpins son and brother, Bello Turji’s and Adamu Alero’s respectively”.
“The military operations Fansan Yamma which was launched last year in Sokoto by the Minister of State for Defence Bello Mohammed Matawalle and the Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Gwabi Musa is yielding positive results where dangerous bandit leader Halilu Sububu was eliminated and his boys were neutralised,” the statement said.
The party described the recent clearing of Turji’s camps where his son and some of his close lieutenants were killed, as impressive, stressing that it increased citizens’ confidence in the nation’s military.
The party hinted that “the president’s declaration to fully clamp down on the criminals and end their activities in the year 2025 is happily being realized right from the first month of the year.”
The party urged peace-loving citizens to continue to support and give credible information to the military to easily track down all the vicious gangs including their sponsors and informants for the return of peace to the Northwest.
