A soldier of Operation Sahel Sanity in the northwest has lost his life while trying to rescue a nursing mother during a gun duel when bandits attacked the Diskuru village of the Faskari area council of Katsina State.
The troops also neutralized five bandits as several others escaped with various degrees of injuries as noticed from their escape routes while three women and their infants were rescued during the attack.
This is contained in statement by the Acting Defense Media Operations, Brigadier General Bernard Onyeuko, and obtained by AIT.
According to the statement, the troops also succeeded in arresting bandits informants who are currently in custody undergoing interrogations before handing them over to appropriate prosecuting authorities.
Onyeuko also said, ” On 29 October 2020, troops swiftly responded to a distress call about bandits activities at Diskuru village in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State. The incident was recorded as the marauding bandits storm the village on several motorcycles, shooting sporadically with the intent to scare the locals and loot valuables. On arrival, the gallant troops engaged the criminals in a fierce firefight forcing them to withdraw in disarray. Resulting from the encounter, 3 bandits were neutralized by the troops as several others were believed to have escaped with various degrees of gunshot wounds.”
He continued by stating that, “During the exploitation phase, 2 additional bandits’ bodies were discovered along their withdrawal route. Also in the aftermath of the encounter, 3 women and their infants earlier kidnapped by the bandits were rescued from the criminals. Troops continue to dominate the village and adjoining the environment to deny the bandits any respite. Regrettably, one brave soldier paid the supreme price in an attempt to save one of the rescued nursing mothers in the heat of the encounter.”
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While commending the troops for their gallantry and resilience, Onyeuko urged them to continue dominating the operational areas with a view to ensuring that lasting peace and security returns to the Northwest zone.
Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe
