168 bandits killed in six months

A total of 168 bandits were killed in Kaduna State in the last six months, while 74 automatic rifles and 5,398 ammunition were also recovered.

This was contained in a statement issued in Jos on Sunday by the spokesman for the 3 Division, Nigeria Army, Major Ishaku Takwa, after a security meeting held at the Kaduna State Government House and attended by the state  Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.

The statement read in part, “The Executive Governor of Kaduna State, His Excellency Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has commended troops for their resilience, which has helped in taming the tide of insecurity in the state. Governor El-Rufai made this known in Kaduna during a brief and review of the security strategies implanted by security agencies in the state.

“The Governor commended the troops for employing multifaceted measures such as kinetic and non-kinetic measures that ensured community-based solutions to incessant killings and attacks on communities in Southern Kaduna. He further applauded the troops for crushing bandits inhabiting and causing havoc in the remote communities of the state.

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“Presenting the security update, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Homeland Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan, revealed that 168 bandits were killed, 74 automatic rifles and 5,398 ammunition were recovered from the bandits within six months. He said the success recorded was a result of improved measures recently employed by both the security agencies and state government in strengthening its intelligence network.

“The commissioner further noted the significance of blocking the flow of illicit drugs that fuelled criminality and affirmed the significant relationship between illicit drugs and banditry. He called on all security agencies to upscale their collaboration to decisively deal with all forms of criminality in the country.

“Also speaking, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division Nigerian Army and Commander Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), Major General Ibrahim Ali, noted the positive impact of the synergy between troops of OPSH and Kaduna State Vigilante Group in the area of information gathering. He revealed that the training of Vigilantes in Southern Kaduna by troops of OPSH, the increased troops’ deployment as well as the Joint Community Intervention Committees set up by OPSH are responsible for the decline in attacks and isolated killings in the region. He commended the Kaduna State government and citizens for the cooperation and support enjoyed by the troops.

“The meeting, which was held in Government House Kaduna, was attended by the state executives, heads of security agencies as well as traditional and community leaders of the state.”