Troops kill 2 bandits, recover 22 rustled cows in Kaduna

Troops of the 167 Battalion’s Operation Fadan-Yamma of the Nigerian Army deployed to Sabon-Iche in Kagarko LGA of Kaduna State have reportedly neutralised two bandits during a fierce gun battle with cattle rustlers. The troops also recovered 22 cows at Chigwalu village in Kachia LGA of the state. A resident of Kagarko, Ibrahim Ahmed, said […]

Troops of the 167 Battalion’s Operation Fadan-Yamma of the Nigerian Army deployed to Sabon-Iche in Kagarko LGA of Kaduna State have reportedly neutralised two bandits during a fierce gun battle with cattle rustlers.

The troops also recovered 22 cows at Chigwalu village in Kachia LGA of the state.

A resident of Kagarko, Ibrahim Ahmed, said the incident happened on Saturday, when bandits, in their large numbers, wielding AK-47 rifles, attacked four Fulani settlements and rustled over 400 cows.

He gave the names of the settlements as RuganWokili, Rugan Bawa, Rugan Yero and Rugan Kire near Janjala in Kagarko LGA.

He said the bandits came under heavy gunfire from the troops as they were trying to escape with the rustled cows.

He said the troops encountered the bandits at Chigwalu Forest around 2:12am on Sunday.

He said the gun battle led to the killing of two bandits while several other gang members escaped with bullet wounds, adding that 22 cows were recovered in the process.

He said the sound of gunfire forced some of the cows to run in different directions in the forest, even as he said the 22 were recovered at the spot.

He said, “During the exchange of fire between the troops and the bandits, most of the cows scattered into the forest while some even sustained bullet wounds but 22 were recovered during the encounter.”

Ahmed said residents from five villages of Anguwan Lalli, Gidan Kwano, Sabon Gari, Katambi and Anguwa Toka have left, deserting the villages following the activities of bandits who have been terrorising villages in the area.

“Aside from these five villages, residences in Gidan Makeri, Kucumi and Taka-Lafiya were also deserted due to the activities of bandits that have been terrorising people of the communities,” he said.

A security source, who was part of the operation but preferred anonymity, confirmed the incident to our reporter, saying some of the bandits were neutralised while some escaped with bullet wounds.

“Although 22 cows were recovered while others that scattered into the bush have started returning to their rightful owners,’’ he said.

He said the efforts of the troops at Sabon-Iche and Kagarko Army Base had denied the bandits and other criminal elements freedom of action, even as he said the troops were trailing the bandits that fled with bullet injuries.

The spokesman for the Kaduna State Police Command, ASP Hassan Mansur, could not be reached for comment on the incident.

 

Court admits self-proclaimed Ondo traditional ruler, 2 others to bail

A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Akure on Monday, admitted one AladeseyiAdekolajo, a self-proclaimed traditional ruler of Ijare in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State and two others to bail in the sum of N1million each.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the police arraigned Adekolajo, 67, Lawrence Fasore, 63 and AdegbenroAkanle, 63 on a three-count charge.

The police alleged that the defendants conspired and conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause public disorder.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr JayeolaOgungade, also ordered them to produce two sureties each with verified home addresses.

Ogungade asked all the parties involved to maintain peace and eschew violence and rancour.

He adjourned the case until June 13, for hearing.

Earlier, hundreds of residents of the community protested at the Ondo State High Court in Akure over the detention of Adekolajo, who they claimed was their traditional ruler.

Mr Ade Adedeji, who led other youths of the community in the protest, said the entire people of Ijare had interest in Adekolajo to be the next Olujare of Ijare.

“We are pleading with the state government and the judiciary to release our traditional ruler to us. As we speak, we are not happy following the detention of our traditional ruler because he is our choice.

“The Ondo State Government should please approve this man as the new Olujare of Ijare, the entire Ijare people are pleading,” he said. (NAN)