Security forces have eliminated 21 armed bandits during a successful raid on Shawu Forest, situated in the Ruwan Godiya Ward of Faskari Local Government Area, Katsina State.
The operation was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday by the State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasiru Mu’azu Danmusa.
According to Danmusa, troops from the 17 Brigade Strike Group of the Nigerian Army launched a targeted offensive against a terrorist hideout as part of the ongoing Operation Forest Sanity III.
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The raid resulted in the death of multiple terrorists and a significant disruption of their operational capabilities. Some were swept away while attempting to escape across a river.
Notably, no soldiers were injured or killed during the mission.
The troops recovered an assortment of weapons and equipment, including around 40 motorcycles and an undisclosed number of rustled cattle.
The raid also yielded one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), five AK-47 rifles, a pump-action gun, 21 AK-47 magazines, and 17 Motorola Communication radios.
Further items retrieved included 64 rounds of 7.62mm NATO belted ammunition, 448 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, four pump-action cartridges, two RPG-7 chargers, and a single RPG-7 explosive.
Other seized materials comprised five 48mm CS hand grenades, a Baofeng handheld radio, six mobile phones with three spare batteries, a jungle camouflage hat, and three magazine pouches.
Additional discoveries included a motorcycle manual pump, an empty wallet, three jungle bags filled with various charms, and a cash sum of ₦15,260.
Danmusa noted that the troops launched the offensive at approximately 8:50 a.m. on 23 May, engaging the terrorists in a fierce gunfight.
The intensity of the assault forced the bandits to flee, abandoning their encampments and using their livestock as cover while retreating through thick vegetation and rocky terrain.
The troops pursued the fleeing suspects and continued their assault even as some attempted to cross the river to evade capture.
All recovered items are now secured in military custody for further investigation, while clearance operations continue in the area.
In response to the successful mission, Governor Dikko Radda commended the 17 Brigade Strike Group for their courage and professionalism.
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Addressing the public from the State House, he reaffirmed his government’s commitment to supporting the military’s efforts to restore peace and security across affected regions.
The governor also urged the troops to sustain their momentum and continue to press forward until all criminal threats are neutralised.
