A military commander stationed at Sabon Garin Dan’ali in Katsina state was tragically killed in an ambush on Thursday evening. The deceased, simply identified by a colleague as Major AG Mohammed was reportedly responding to a distress call from Malali village, located in Kankara Local Government Area when he was ambushed by the hoodlums.
Sources familiar with the incident revealed that the Major, known for his prompt response to security threats, deployed a Hilux vehicle due to unavailability of the usual Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) while responding to the distress call.
Unfortunately, this decision left him vulnerable as his assailants ambushed the vehicle and fatally shot him in the head.
According to local residents who wished to remain anonymous, a fierce gunfight erupted as security personnel attempted to retrieve the Major’s body. Sadly, another officer sustained gunshot wounds during the retrieval operation.
The Nigerian Army’s 17 Brigade Public Relations Officer and the Katsina State Police Command are yet to responded to requests for comment on this incident.
Kankara Local Government is one of the leading hotspot for bandit activity in Katsina State. This has forced several villages to abandon their homes due to the escalating violence.
Meanwhile in another development, the country, troops neutralised 216 terrorists and arrested 332 persons in the last one week.
Troops also rescued 161 kidnapped victims while a total of 356 criminal elements including oil theft perpetrators were arrested.
In the Niger Delta, troops discovered and destroyed eight illegal refinery sites, 97 dugout pits, 20 storage tanks, 174 cooking ovens, six boats, two receivers, sixteen drums, and seven vehicles.
Troops recovered 533,127 liters of stolen crude oil and 24,520 liters of illegally refined AGO.
Consequently, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of Four Hundred and Forty Eight Million Five Hundred Fifty Seven Thousand Five Hundred and Ninty Naira (N448,557,590) only.
During the encounters, troops recovered 234 assorted weapons and 5,994 assorted ammunition comprising 131 AK47 rifles, 3 PKT guns, one M16 rifle, 43 locally fabricated gun, 21 Dane guns, one 105mm gun, 2 automatic pump action guns, 18 locally fabricated pistols, 8 single barrel guns, 2 automatic pump action guns, one LG4 bomb, one MG skeleton, 3 explosive IED case, one MOWAG APC, one 81mm mortar tripod stand
Expatiating on the operations, Gen Buba said, “In the North East, troops of Operation Hadin Kai neutralized 56 terrorists, arrested 61 suspects and rescued 43 kidnappers hostages.
“Troops recovered 42 AK47 rifles, 3 PKT guns, one 105mm gun, 12 dane guns, one MG skeleton, one LG4 bomb, 1,087 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 499 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 99 rounds of 7.62 pieces of 25mm ammo, one burnt RPG tube, 3 explosive IED case, one 81mm mortar tripod stand, 2 gun trucks, 16 motorcycles, 12 bicycles, 12 mobile phones and the sum of N639,500.00 only amongst others.
“Following intelligence and confirmatory ISR of massing up of terrorists with gun trucks, motorcycles and other logistics with intention of ambush on troops.
“The air component of Operation Hadin Kai with NA aeroson UAV on 15 and 16 April 2024 conducted multiple close air support and air interdiction. Accordingly, the targets were acquired and attacked with bombs and rockets.
“Battle Damage Assessment revealed that several terrorists were neutralized and their gun trucks as well as other logistics destroyed. Additionally, further exploitation by surface troops led to recovery of one hilux vehicle and one 105 pack howitzer.
“In the North Central, troops of Operation Safe Haven neutralized 8 insurgents, arrested 48 violent extremists and rescued 28 kidnapped hostages.
“Troops recovered 2 AK47 rifles, 6 fabricated guns, 3 fabricated pistols, 89 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 176 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 23 rounds of 9mm ammo, 2 motorcycles and 5 mobile phones amongst others.
“Between 17 and 21 April 2024, troops in separate operations conducted Counter/anti kidnapping operations in Mangu, Bassa, Bokkos and Barkin Ladi LGAs of Plateau State.
During the operations, troops arrested 9 violent extremists/armed robbers and rescued 7 kidnapped hostages.
“Troops also recovered 2 AK47 rifles, 2 fabricated rifles, 2 fabricated pistols, one dane gun, 89 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 97 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, one motorcycle and 2 mobile phones amongst others.
“Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke neutralized 24 terrorists, arrested 39 violent extremists and rescued 12 kidnapped hostages.
“Troops recovered 16 AK47 rifles, 11 dane guns, 406 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 306 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 4 magazines, 8 motorcycles and 10 mobile phones amongst others.
“In North West, troops of Operation Hadarin Daji neutralized 116 terrorists, arrested 42 terrorists and rescued 52 kidnapped hostages,