Bandits have carried out a series of violent attacks in Kaduna and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) amid a worsening insecurity in the country.
In one incident, bandits targeted the Gashe community in Kachia LGA of Kaduna State, killing the Mai Anguwa, Mr Philibus Andrew, and abducting 13 family members. The attack occurred late at night, with the assailants using sophisticated weaponry.
Musa Bala, a resident, lamented the harrowing events where the bandits first targeted the community leader’s residence, then moved on to abduct multiple individuals from neighbouring houses. The bandits also engaged in looting local establishments during their rampage.
Another abduction took place in Badeko village, where 10 individuals were taken by the heavily armed bandits.
Meanwhile, in a related incident in the FCT, gunmen raided Faba village in Bwari Area Council. One person was killed and three others were abducted.
According to reports, there was no immediate security response as the bandits operated with impunity.
Security experts have stressed the importance of a comprehensive approach that includes both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies to address underlying factors contributing to insecurity, such as poverty, unemployment, and social inequality in the country.
On Thursday, the military high command disclosed the names of several top terrorist commanders who were eliminated during operations in the northern region between January and March 2024.
These included Abu Bilal Minuki, also known as Abubakar Mainok, the Head of Is-Al Furqan Province, and Haruna Isiya Boderi, among others. The Director of Defence Media Operations, Edward Buba, revealed these details during a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, April 4.
According to Buba, Boderi, a notorious terrorist, was killed by troops on Feb. 21, 2024, after operating in Kaduna State and along the Abuja-Kaduna Highway.
Major-General Edward Buba who spoke to the press during the security briefing, said security operatives were combating a “vicious circle”.
His words:
“The armed forces are fighting a vicious enemy in the ongoing operations across the country. Nevertheless, the military is ready, prepared, equipped and focused on what to do with these terrorists and their cohorts.
“Surely, we have been collecting intelligence, hunting them and striking them where they may be hiding and hibernating. Our aim is to kill these terrorists and the infrastructure that supports them.
“Accordingly, we have employed significant firepower to neutralise several terrorists and disrupt their activities.”
Buba also detailed the process through which armed forces achieved the feat.
“Troops equally conducted ambushes, raids, fighting patrols and offensive against the terrorists. The attacks and offensive actions by troops during the period January-March 2024, resulted in 2,351 terrorists neutralised; 2,308 persons arrested and 1,241 kidnapped hostages rescued.
“Furthermore, troops recovered 2,847 weapons, 58,492 ammunitions and denied the oil theft of an estimated sum over N20 billion.
“Breakdown for the period includes and is not limited to the following: 1,497 AK47 rifles, 33,878 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 12,698 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 948 assorted arms and 5,520 assorted ammo.
“Others are 21,573,310 litres of stolen crude oil, 2,723,430 litres of illegally refined AGO, 53,300 litres of DPK and 52,730 litres of PMS amongst other items.
“The foregoing demonstrates that ongoing operations are effective and result-oriented. Accordingly, the military is raising the bar in the prosecution of the war. Consequently, citizens will continue to witness the incremental effectiveness and efficiency of the armed forces,” he said.
