As troops burst drug counterfeiting ring, intercept 350 cartons of fake drugs, amongst others.
Troops of Operation Hadarin Daji OPHD has killed 13 bandits, intercept large ammunitions cache of 4,630 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition in Moriki town of Shinkafi, local government area of Zamfara and Katsina and Kebbi states.
Several other bandits were fatally wounded while 8 suspected bandits that include a female were arrested.
The acting force information officer Captain Abayomi Oni-Orisan disclosed this in a press released in Gusau on Sunday.
Oni-Orisan explained that the feat was recorded between the 10th and 20th of this month during an operation as the troops conducted clearance operations, ambushes and fighting patrols in several locations across the theater carried out in
11 Communities in Anka, Shinkafi and Bukkuyum Local Governments Area of Zamfara state other locations where the operation also took place were 3 communities in Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina state and 3 communities in Kebbi state.
The operation according to him also led to the recovery of 7 AK-47 rifles, 8 loaded magazines, 22 Motorcycles, 2 Dane guns, 4 GSM phones and 30 Jerry cans of Premium Motor Spirit.
The troops also intercepted suspected drug counterfeiters and drug dealers with 350 cartons of fake “PECOL” drugs and a sizeable consignment of suspected Indian Hemp in Zurmi and Shinkafi Local Government Areas of Zamfara state respectively.
The fake “PECOL” drugs according to the press released were smuggled from Niger Republic through Jibia, carefully were carefully behind bags of fresh pepper in a J5 Bus with registration number RMY 156 XA Katsina to avoid any suspicion.
The Troops deployed in Shinkafi Local Government area of Zamfara stare also intercepted another vehicle conveying a suspected drug dealer with a large quantity of Indian Hemp carefully concealed inside a carton.
The suspects and exhibits according to the released have duly been handed over to the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control NAFDAC and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA respectively for further prosecution and destruction of the drugs.
It is to be noted that the ongoing operation against banditry and all forms of criminality will continue until peace is restored in Zamfara, Katsina, Kebbi and Sokoto states.
The Force Commander of OPHD and Acting General Officer Commanding 8 Division, Nigerian Army, Brigadier-General Aminu Bande urged and the general public to support the operation by providing timely and credible information to the troops through the dedicated emergency telephone numbers, earlier provided to the general public, to ensure prompt and efficient action.
Bande also warned all recalcitrant bandits and their cohorts to immediately lay down their arms and embrace the on-going peace process or face full military action.