It was gathered that the military also lost 10 personnel while some civilians were killed when bandits fled toward communities, PRNigeria reports.
At least 213 dead bodies including the remains of neutralised terrorists and their collaborators have reportedly been recovered days after a gun battle between troops of the Nigerian Army and terrorists in some communities in Zamfara State.
Zamfara is in northwest Nigeria.
It was gathered that the military also lost 10 personnel while some civilians were killed when bandits fled toward communities, PRNigeria reports.
SaharaReporters on Monday reported that the airstrikes by Nigerian Air Force fighter jets and the mopping up action of ground troops of Operation Hadarin Daji killed several terrorists in Malele village in the Dansadau Local Government Area of the state.
The NAF and ground troops of the Nigerian Army have recently sustained a well-coordinated joint operation, as terrorist activities in the area have been exacerbated due to the lingering crisis between Hausas and Fulanis over the destruction of farm produce. This is made the area very volatile, especially in Malele, Maigoge, Yan Sawayu, Ruwan Tofa, Mai Awaki, and Zama Lafiya, all under Mutunji district in Dansadau Emirate Council.
Speaking on the incident, a defence intelligence operative told PRNigeria that security services mobilised their troops to launch a series of attacks and airstrikes against bandits coming from different parts of the country.
The defence intelligence operative said “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."
On Tuesday, PRNigeria reported that credible sources in the community said that 10 soldiers were killed while their colleagues also killed no fewer than 213 of the terrorists.
One of the sources said, "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."
The Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, in his condolence message through his Special Adviser on Public Enlightenment, Media and Communications, Zailani Bappa, expressed his sympathy to the families of the victims earlier caught in military fire against the marauding bandits.
Governor Matawalle said, "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."