The Nigerian Army has killed 21 terrorists in a major counter-insurgency operation conducted in Shawu Forest, located in the Ruwan Godiya Ward of Faskari Local Government Area, Katsina State.
The offensive, carried out by troops of the 17 Brigade Strike Group under Operation Forest Sanity III, commenced around 8:50 a.m. on May 23. Soldiers engaged the terrorists in a fierce gun battle, resulting in a decisive victory for the troops.
According to the Katsina State Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, the bandits attempted to flee the scene through challenging terrain, including a river that swept away some of them. Their camp was completely overrun and dismantled by the troops.
No casualties were recorded on the part of the military.
Weapons and equipment recovered from the scene include one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), five AK-47 rifles, one pump-action rifle, 21 AK-47 magazines, 17 Motorola communication radios, and hundreds of rounds of live ammunition. Other items recovered include RPG-7 bombs and chargers, hand grenades, jungle camouflage gear, mobile phones, charms, and cash totaling ₦15,260.
Troops also secured around 40 motorcycles and several rustled cattle during the operation.
Reacting to the development, Governor Dikko Radda praised the troops for their bravery and professionalism. He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to supporting security agencies in flushing out criminal elements from the region.
“We are proud of the efforts of our troops. Their commitment to defending our people is commendable. We will continue to support all security agencies to ensure criminals have no safe haven in our state,” the governor said.
The Commissioner for Internal Security, Dr. Nasiru Muazu, confirmed that mop-up operations were still underway, and all recovered items are currently in military custody for further investigation.
