The Acting Director, Army Public
Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said in a statement on Saturday that the
dead military personnel comprised nine soldiers and two Airmen.
He said the soldiers were from 31
Artillery Brigade, Division and the Nigerian Air Force detachment on
International Security Operation MESA.
Usman added that two other soldiers sustained serious injuries while one was missing.
According to Usman, the troops were on a
cordon and search operation to recover suspected cache of weapons and
arrest armed bandits when they came under attack from the hoodlums.
Usman added that the bandits also burnt
down four operational vehicles, vandalised two others and went away with
four AK-47 rifles, and a Fabrique Nationale rifle belonging to the
deceased soldiers.
He explained that the troops killed
eight of the attackers, arrested 57 and recovered large quantity of arms
and ammunition from them.
The Acting Army Spokesman disclosed that
the recovered items included three AK-47 rifles,10 Local AK-47 rifles,
nine locally-made pistols, six revolver guns, which fires 7.62mm
(special ammunition), 45 loaded dane guns, 10 clubs and cudgels, 41
arrows, 18 bow cases, 122 cutlasses and machetes as well as 20 daggers.
Usman said, ‘‘ The troops also recovered
31 axes, 63 rounds of 7.62 (special) ammunition, 10 Bajaj motorcycles,
assorted charms and amulets, two vehicles, 38 mobile telephone handsets,
a wristwatch, five identity cards, passport photographs, sum of
N23,870. 00k, five Japanese Yen and 35 different denominations of old
Nigerian currency, 15 catapults, eight torch lights, two gun powder
bottles, four empty cases of ammunition and 41 cartridges.”
Usman further listed the recovered items to include a military waist belt and a pair of military combat boots.
He explained that the military undertook
the operation in response to covert surveillance and intelligence
report on the activities of the gun-runners in the area.
He said the military would ensure that those behind the dastardly act were apprehended and brought to justice.
“It is important to stress that the
nefarious activities of the gun-runners and the armed bandits has direct
bearing with the influx of weapons and general insecurity in some parts
of the Federal Capital Territory and the North-West geo-political zone
of the country.
“The same gun-runners have been
confirmed to be the suppliers of arms to armed robbery gangs that were
involved in series of armed robbery attacks along Minna-Bida Road and
the general environment.
“Although the situation is under
control, the military will not rest on its oars until all those involved
are arrested and brought to justice. The military will continue to deal
with any violent threat to our national security,” Usman stated.
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