By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The Katsina State Governor has lauded the profound professional acumen and dexterity exhibited by troops of the 17 Brigade Strike Group of the Nigerian Army in responding to insurgency threats in the State.
His commendation comes on the heels of the neutralization of no fewer than 21 banditry elements on Friday, May 23, 2025 by troops in Shawu Forest, Ruwan Godiya Ward of Faskari Local Council of the State.
A statement at the weekend from the Katsina State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr Nasiru Muazu, informed that some of the bandits were felled directly by troops bullets during coordinated raid on the strong hold of the hoodlums at about 8.50 am of Friday,while others drowned in a river in a bid to escape the firepower of troops.
He explained that the military exercise was part of the new measures put in place by the State Authorities and security agencies to decimate the operational capabilities of the terrorists
“As part of the ongoing kinetic phase of Operation Forest Sanity III, OPFS, troops of the 17 Brigade Strike Group ,Nigerian Army, successfully carried out a deliberate attack on a terrorist enclave in Shawu Forest ,Ruwan Godiya Ward, Faskari LGA.
“The operation resulted in the neutralization of several terrorists and the decimation of their operational capacity.
“At approximately 08.50 am on 23rd May, the crack troops assaulted the terrorists positions engaging them in a fierce gun duel.
“The intensity of the attack forced the terrorists to abandon their camps and flee into the dense bushes and rocky terrain ,using their livestock as a shield for their escape.
“Undeterred ,the troops pursued the fleeing terrorists ,engaging them relentlessly ,including those attempting to escape by crossing a river.
“In the course of the operation ,21 terrorists were killed ,including those swept away by the river while trying to escape . Interestingly ,there were no casualties on the part of the military team”, part of the statement reads.
“During the operation, several weapons, ammunition, and other items including about forty motorcycles and a large number of rustled cattle were recovered from the bandits’ camps according to the Commissioner.
Some of the hostile equipment recovered were five AK-47 rifles, one General Purpose Machine Gun, a pump-action rifl, 21 AK-47 magazines, and 17 Motorola Communication radios.
“A large quantity of ammunition ,and other vital items ,including 64 rounds of 7.62 mm NATO belted ammunition ,448f rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, four pump action cartridges ,two RPG-7 chargers ,one RPG-7 bomb and five CS 48mm hand grenades were also recovered .
“Further recoveries included a motorcycle manual pump ,an empty wallet ,three jungle bags containing various charms, and a sum of fifteen thousand two hundred ,and sixty naira ( N15,260)” Muazu stated.
Governor Radda, particularly, attributed the series of successful operations against terrorists in the state to the exceptional level of professionalism, bravery and commitment shown by troops.
While urging the Military to sustain its present efficient operational measures, he, also, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment towards supporting security agencies in their bid to stamping out all forms of security challenges in Katsina State.
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