North-West Operation: Troops Capture 7 Bandits, Rescue 31 Persons

North-West Operation: Troops Capture 7 Bandits, Rescue
31 Persons
This is a briefing on activities of the Operation WHIRL PUNCH being
conducted by the troops of 1 Division Nigerian Army (NA).

This operation is part of the Operation 777, which is being
conducted and coordinated simultaneously nationwide under the
auspices of the Defence Headquarters. Prior to the launch of Op
777, terrorists and criminals devised different means of evading
ongoing operations in different theatres of operations. However,
since the commencement of Op 777 on 8 October 2018, significant and
modest operational successes have been recorded across the
nation.

Under Operation WHIRL PUNCH, 1 Division NA is tasked to provide
security and restore normalcy along Kaduna – Abuja Expressway and
Birnin Gwari and its environs as well as Niger State, which were
hitherto devastated by the activities of bandits, kidnappers, armed
robbers and cattle rustlers.

In preparation for the conduct of the operations, additional
platforms, establishment of new military/Police formations/units
and injection of more troops were carried out by the Defence
Headquarters to ensure the success of this operation.

There is Nigerian Army Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Birnin
Gwari, which will soon metamorphose into 98 Bn in line with 2016 NA
Order Of Battle (ORBAT). The Nigerian Air Force also plan to
establish FOB to support Operation WHIRL PUNCH in Birnin Gwari
general area, Niger State and the entire operation WHIRL PUNCH Area
of Responsibility.

The troops of 1 Division NA, Nigerian Air Force aircrafts,
Police and other security agencies are conducting series of raids,
ambushes, patrols, road blocks and air strikes against the
identified camps/hideouts of bandits, kidnappers and other criminal
elements within the operational areas. The general areas where our
troops operate are characterised by thick forests such as the
Kamuku, Kuduru, Birnin Gwari and Alawa Forests; the area also have
several high grounds, which bandits and kidnappers use as staging
areas and camps to perpetrate their heinous acts. To surmount these
terrain challenges, we have also devised ingenious ways of
deploying our troops and conducting operations.

So far, in this operation, 14 notorious bandits, cattle rustlers
and kidnappers have been neutralised. Likewise several assorted
sophisticated arms, ammunition and large herds of cattle have been
recovered from the bandits, kidnappers and cattle rustlers.

A total of 18 AK47 rifles, 2 pistols, 3 mobile phones, 1
motorola, large cache’ of ammunition and 32 Motorcycles have been
recovered. The troops also recovered over 331 cows from rustlers in
Birnin Gwari area and 132 cows in Birnin Yero areas
respectively.

Along the Kaduna – Abuja Expressway 49 cows and 42 sheep have
been recovered. All the recovered animals were handed over to their
screened and profiled owners.

Additionally, a total of 31 persons (18 Children and 13 Adults)
were rescued from kidnappers within the Area of Operation. During
this period also 5 bandits and 2 informants were arrested and they
are currently assisting the security agencies in ongoing
investigation. Unfortunately 2 soldiers were wounded and are
currently receiving treatment at military hospital in Kaduna. Two
civilian vigilante assisting troops in the operation were also
killed in action by bandit’s fire.

Through these special operations, relative peace have been
restored and hence, the troops dominate the operating environment,
thereby creating safe and conducive atmosphere for socio-economic
activities to thrive. It is evident that, now the local traders,
motorists, residents of villages/settlements in these general areas
are conducting their businesses mostly unmolested. The returned of
relative peace and security was made possible through joint
operations and synergy of efforts by the security agencies and
cooperative posture of the locals and vigilante’ groups.

Let me also address a recent allegation of killing 74 cows
belonging to Fulanis at Riyawa in Sabon Birni area. The Riyawa
general area has been notorious as a den of bandits, cattle
rustlers and kidnappers. Severally, troops had encounters with the
bandits who use the difficult terrain and knowledge of the ground
to escape. On 17 November 2018, based on intelligence, troops
conducted a raid on bandits camps in the area. The bandits were
alerted by their dogs. The observed current practice of the bandits
is to use their cows as shield to escape while firing at troops.
This was the case on 17 November 2018 which was not a deliberate
act by the troops to kill the cows.

Our troops were recently deployed to restore and maintain peace
in the recent Kaduna crisis, the proactive deployment, was
applauded for its critical impact on preventing spread of crisis
beyond Kaduna State. It is equally important to state that, as part
of 1 Division’s Community Engagement Programmes (CEP) during
Operation 777, medical outreach programme was carried out in Sayen
Lemu Village in Zaria LGA. Worthy to mention also is the renovation
of 2 blocks of class rooms recently in Sayen Lemu Village. As part
of the CEP also, the troops in Kidandan area of Giwa LGA, Kaduna
State now escort farmers to enable them harvest their crops. This
is coming in the aftermath of recent bandits attacking and killing
farmers in their farms in the general area.

Let me use this opportunity to assure the law abiding citizens
that the Armed Forces and other security agencies will continue to
ensure the protection of lives and properties of Nigerians.
Operation 777 is designed to consolidate on the achievement of the
existing operations so as to enhance the safety and promote socio-
economic activities of Nigerians. We will continue to solicit the
support and cooperation of the media towards successful conduct of
the Operation 777.

JOHN AGIM
BRIGADIER GENERAL
ACTING DIRECTOR DEFENCE INFORMATION