It was a total showdown and exchange of gunfire between the soldiers and terrorists in Zamfara communities at the weekend, leading to the killing of 213 terrorists and their collaborators, with military losing 10 personnel while some civilians also got killed as the terrorists took to their heels.
Information had it that the air component and ground troops of Operation Hadarin Daji stormed Malele village in Dansadau Local Government Area of Zamfara State with Aircraft from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and ground troops of the Nigerian Army, providing strong back-up in sustained well-coordinated joint operation.
It was gathered that terrorist activities in the area have been exacerbated due to the lingering crisis between Hausas and Fulanis over the devouring of farm produce thereby making the area very volatile, especially in Malele, Maigoge, Yan Sawayu, Ruwan Tofa, Mai Awaki, and Zama Lafiya, all under Mutunji district of Dansadau Emirate Council.
A defence intelligence operative had said that the security services mobilized their troops, launching a series of attacks and airstrikes against those warring terrorist coming from different parts of the country.
“Both the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Air Force (NAF) operations are yielding fantastic results in the area with several terrorists being eliminated as the battle is still on.
“Bandits who were fleeing from NAF airstrikes ran into a small village called Mutunji to take refuge. After ensuring that civilian lives in the village were not at risk, the NAF aircraft undertook a precision strike at the exact location while the ground troops cleared the fleeing bandits in their escape bids,” the operative said.
Credible sources in the community confirmed that 10 soldiers paid the supreme price while their colleagues, pounded the terrorists.
“At least we counted 213 bodies of the bandit terrorists and their collaborators. Some civilians too were killed in what the military called ‘collateral damage’ when fleeing bandits hid in the communities.
“The attack on troops occurred when the troops with the support of local vigilantes were navigating the terrains for counter-attacks.”
Governor Bello Matawalle, through Zailani Bappa, his Special Adviser on Public Enlightenment, Media and Communications, expressed his heartfelt sympathy to the families of victims earlier caught in military fire against the marauding terrorist.
“I wish to, on behalf of myself, my family, the state Government and the entire good people of Zamfara state, extend my sincere sympathy to those who were injured and the families of those who died as a result of this collateral damage,” the Governor said.
