From Ahmad Ibrahim, Gusau
Over 100 bandits were said to have been neutralized as a result of a heavy fight between the bandits and the security personnel along the Gusau-Sokoto road in the Maru local government area of Zamfara State.
A notorious bandits’ leader who has been on the wants list of the military personnel, Halilu Buzu, was among the bandits neutralized in the encounter.
An eye witness identified as Ibrahim Na Allah told newsmen that hundreds of bandits were moving along Gusau-Sokoto road after an alleged meeting with the bandits’ kingpin Bello Turji when they were engaged in a heavy gun duel by the security personnel, who included soldiers and police.
According to Na Allah, the fight, which began in the evening of yesterday Thursday, lasted for several hours, a situation that has forced hundreds of motorists travelling on the road to be stranded on the road.
He maintained that some motorists spent the night in the forest as they were put on a strong hold-up and could neither move forward nor backwards due to heavy gunshots from both the bandits and the security personnel.
Na Allah stressed that an army aircraft which arrived at the scene of the incident had led to the killing of several bandits, while over fifty motorcycles belonging to the bandits were abandoned on the road.
He further explained that there were over one hundred dead bodies of the neutralized bandits scattered along the road.
He said, “We were on our way to Sokoto last Thursday evening when we suddenly met a long holdup on the road.
“As we were waiting for the vehicles to move forward, we heard gunshots coming from many directions, and suddenly, we saw the bandits in large numbers trying to escape.
“Many of them were shot dead while several others have suffered serious injuries.
“We were told by the security personnel that everybody should remain in his vehicle and should not move out to avoid losing our lives.
“I was one of the passengers who slept on the road. That was why I can confidently tell you that I saw several dead bodies of the notorious bandits,” concluded Na Allah.
The Chief of Defence Staff of the Nigerian Arm,y General Christopher Musa, who visited the Zamfara government house about the killing of the bandits, told Governor Dauda Lawal that a notorious bandits leader by the name of Halilu Sububu was among the bandits that were neutralized during the encounter.
General Musa told the governor that he was in the state to ensure that the security situation was adequately addressed.
He said, “I want to assure your Excellency and the good people of the state that we will do our best to ensure that farming activities have returned to normal and farmers can go to their farms without fear.
“I am also happy to announce the demise of one of the notorious bandit’s leaders by the name of Halilu.
“We will put more pressure on the insurgents until they are completely wiped out of our dear country.
“I am quite sure that, with the support and cooperation from the general public, we will one day win this battle.”
