The Nigerian Army said, yesterday, that its troops in separate operations conducted in Zamafara and Katsina states on Monday, neutralised 11 terrorists/bandits while several other scampered in disarray during the firefights.
A post by the Army on X formerly Twitter, said the terrorists were eliminated following coordinated raids on terrorist kingpins enclaves in the states.
It disclosed that in Zamafara State, the hideout of a terrorist leader, Hassan Yantagwaye, in Tsafe Local Government Area of the state was raided, which resulted in a gun battle with two of his men killed in the operation.
He said: “Nigerian Army troops deployed for counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency operations in Katsina and Zamfara states in a series of coordinated operations have raided terrorists’ enclaves resulting in the elimination of a significant number of terrorists.
“In an operation in Zamfara State, on March 29, 2024, troops successfully raided the den of a notorious terrorists’ kingpin, Hassan Yantagwaye, in the Tsafe Local Government Area of the state.
“Yantagwaye and his group has been responsible for kidnappings and acts of terrorism in some parts of the North-West Nigeria.
“During the operation, troops overpowered the terrorists in an ensuing gun battle, neutralising three of them and recovering a large cache of arms and ammunition. Troops also destroyed the terrorists’ camps.”
The Army said in Katsina, the offensive led to the death of eight terrorists while weapons and military uniforms were recovered from the terrorists.
“In Katsina State, the gallant troops on March 30, 2024, engaged in a fierce gun battle with terrorists in Shawu Kuka, Shinda, Tafki, Gidan Surajo, and Citakushi in Kabai I and Kabai II within Faskari Local Government Area of the state.
“The troops neutralised eight terrorists and recovered three locally-fabricated guns, military uniforms, and a large number of stolen grains,” the post added.
Furthermore, the Army said troops captured armed fighters in Ebonyi and intercepted illicit drugs in Ogun State
