In a special operation in Kaduna State’s Giwa Local Government Area, troops from the Nigerian Army’s One Division and Operation Whirl Punch killed six terrorists and captured three others.
Samuel Aruwan, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, confirmed this on Thursday but did not specify when the operation took place.
The commissioner informed reporters in Kaduna that troops conducted a special fighting patrol in the Galadimawa general area of Giwa LG in response to reliable intelligence of terrorist activity in the area.
He stated that the military established an initial position near Sabon Sara village, where they learned that terrorists had abandoned a herd of rustled cattle as they fled the area.
The commissioner stated that the army recovered the livestock and turned them over to locals before resuming the operation.
He explained that when the army spotted the terrorists in Galadimawa’s Market Square, they exchanged fire quickly, killing six of them.
He stated that a subsequent search of the market area resulted in the arrest by troops of three suspected collaborators and informants who were believed to be providing logistical support to the criminal groups.
Two motorcycles and four mobile phones were also retrieved.
The commissioner reported Governor Uba Sani as saying he received the report with delight and complimented the heroism of the troops under the command of the General Officer Commanding 1 Division, Nigerian Army, and Commander of Operation Whirl Punch, Maj-Gen. MLD Saraso, for the breakthrough.
The governor ordered security forces to conduct a comprehensive probe to dislodge more criminal networks.
“Special operations will continue in the general area and other locations of interest.
“In the meantime, the Government of Kaduna State hereby appeals to locals in frontline communities to continue to volunteer timely intelligence to the nearest security formations or to the 24-hour security operations room,” he added.