A total of 17 bandits have been killed and 67 others arrested in Nasarawa , Benue and Taraba states by the Nigerian Army in its ‘Operation Wild Stroke . ’
The commander of the operation , Maj -Gen Adeyemi Yekini , who made the disclosure while addressing newsmen in Lafia , yesterday , said the feat was achieved in the last eight months of the military exercise in the areas .
‘Operation Wild Stroke ’ is an intervention force established about eight months ago with the mandate to put an end to the incessant killings by armed herdsmen , militia groups and other criminal elements operating in the three states.
LEADERSHIP recalls that hundreds of people were killed last year in herders /farmers clashes in many parts of the country , especially in Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa states.
Commander Yekini presented 45 assorted weapons and 701 assorted ammunition recovered from Bassa militia camp in Zwere, Toto local government area of Nasarawa State.
He said that in the interest of peace and national development , the operation would give itself no rest until criminals were flushed out of the three states.
According to him , the troops killed 16 bandits , arrested 53 people and recovered 11 weapons and 50 rounds of ammunition in Benue.
“In Nasarawa State, 48 weapons and 801 ammunition were recovered, in addition to arresting 9 people and killing one bandit.
“In Taraba state, we recovered 7 weapons, 35 ammunition and arrested 5 people with no bandit killed .
“Statistics put the total number of weapons recovered at 66; ammunition recovered at 886 ; the total number of people arrested is 67 and the total number of bandits killed is 17, ” he said .
Yekini gave assurance of the troops’ commitment to ending kidnapping, killing, communal clashes and other forms of criminality in the affected states.
He urged the people of the states and others to give the troops relevant information that would help in curtailing criminal activities in the country .
