Troops of the Nigerian Army have recorded a major success in the fight against insecurity in Katsina State, killing 21 armed bandits during a clearance operation in Shawu Forest, Ruwan Godiya Ward, Faskari Local Government Area.
The operation, which is part of the ongoing Operation Forest Sanity III (OPFS III), was carried out by the 17 Brigade Strike Group. According to a statement from the Katsina State Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, the raid commenced around 8:50 a.m. on Thursday and targeted a well-established terrorist camp.
The army engaged the terrorists in a fierce gun battle, forcing them to flee into the forest and nearby riverbanks, using rustled livestock as cover. The troops pursued the fleeing assailants, killing 21 in total, including those who drowned while attempting to escape across a river. No military casualties were reported.
During the mop-up operation, the army recovered a cache of weapons and equipment, including one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), five AK-47 rifles, a pump-action rifle, 21 AK-47 magazines, and 17 Motorola communication radios. Ammunition recovered included 64 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, 448 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, four pump-action cartridges, two RPG-7 chargers, one RPG-7 bomb, and five hand grenades.
Additional items retrieved included 40 motorcycles, an unspecified number of rustled cattle, six mobile phones with spare batteries, three jungle bags containing charms, a camouflage hat, and ₦15,260 in cash.
All recovered items are currently in the custody of the Nigerian Army, while clearance operations continue in the area.
In reaction to the operation’s success, Governor Dikko Umaru Radda commended the professionalism and gallantry of the troops. He reaffirmed the state's commitment to supporting the Nigerian Armed Forces and urged them to maintain their high morale in the ongoing effort to restore peace across affected communities.
The statement was signed by Dr. Nasiru Muazu, Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Katsina State.
