No fewer than 100 bandits were killed by the joint forces of Operation Hadarin Daji (OpHD) in Zamfara and parts of Katsina states between December 2019 and January 2020, the acting Force Information Officer, Captain Ayobami Oni-Orisan, has said. Oni-Orisan made the disclosure in a statement made available to journalists in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, on Saturday. “Additionally, OpHD ground troops, backed by the fighter jets of the Air Component, also cleared Shinfida in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State, neutralising several bandits in the process,” he said. The information officer said the renewed use of force against the bandits followed their refusal to embrace the peace process introduced by Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State about six months ago as well as the recent upsurge of the bandits in the affected areas. In addition, Oni-Orisan said the troops also apprehended three suspected bandits; Abubakar Kiri Koloma, Abubakar Ibrahim and Haruna Alhaji Yaro, as well as two suspected drug dealers; Kabiru Abubakar Isah and Hamisu Dan-kwanba at various locations in Zamfara during the period.

Source: Nigerian Tribune January 12, 2020 09:33 UTC