The operations which took place on Wednesday, according to a statement on Thursday, by the Director of Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, were carried out by troops of NA operating in 1 Division area of responsibility when they encountered insurgents in the general area of Igabi, Giwa and Birnin Gwari Local Government Areas of Kaduna State.
The Nigerian Army has said that its troops have neutralised eight Islamic terrorists including two of kingpins in Kaduna State and recovered several firearms and ammunition.
The operations which took place on Wednesday, according to a statement on Thursday, by the Director of Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, were carried out by troops of NA operating in 1 Division area of responsibility when they encountered insurgents in the general area of Igabi, Giwa and Birnin Gwari Local Government Areas of Kaduna State.
Nwachukwu explained that the terrorists employed rustled herds of cattle as shields while they engaged the troops with direct fire.
The army said intelligence sources revealed that a bandit kingpin, popularly called Boderi, who orchestrated the kidnapping of Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri schoolgirls and Greenfield University students and the attack on the Nigerian Defence Academy, was also killed.
It noted that another terrorist, Bodejo, was believed to have been killed.
It, however, added that efforts were ongoing to authenticate the information using other means.
The Army Spokesman said the operations were in response to recent insurgents' attacks against civilians in Igabi and Giwa local government areas, adding that the ongoing operations were aimed at flushing out the insurgents from the areas and bringing succour to the people.
"While on a fighting patrol along Maganda-Dausayi - Mugaba axis, troops came under fire from insurgents who employed rustled herds of cattle as shields while they engaged the troops with direct fire," he said. "The insurgents whose number could not be ascertained fired several shots at the troops from the cover of the herds of livestock prompting immediate response from troops.”
He said, "In the ensuing firefight that lasted for about an hour, troops neutralised 2 of the insurgents and recovered 1 AK 47 rifle,1 AK 47 Magazine, 3 rounds of 7.62mm Special, 1 Techno phone, 3 Hilux and motorcycle keys, wraps of substance suspected to be marijuana, tramadol tablets and the sum of 13,200 Naira only.
"Unfortunately, in the encounter, some of the rustled livestock used as shield by the insurgents were caught in the crossfire. Troops are still on the trail of the fleeing insurgents and remain resolute on ridding the area of responsibility of armed violence.
"In a separate operation, conducted by troops of 1 Division of the Nigerian Army on Wednesday 22 February 2024, the gallant troops successfully ambushed marauding insurgents along the Bada - Riyawa axis on the Kaduna - Birnin Gwari Road. In the encounter, troops neutralized 6 insurgents and recovered 2 AK 47 rifles, 5 AK 47 rifle magazines, 300 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition and 19 motorcycles which were destroyed insitu.
"Intelligence sources are reporting that the notorious bandit Kingpin Boderi who orchestrated many high profile kidnappings including the Yauri school girls, Greenfield University and Nigerian Defence Academy attacks was killed alongside another kingpin, Bodejo in the ambush. Efforts are on to authenticate this using other means."
He, however, pleaded with Nigerians to continue to cooperate with the Nigerian Army and other security agencies in the ongoing war against terrorism and insurgency to secure the country.