Troops of 72 Special Forces (SF) Battalion, Makurdi, deployed for internal security operation in Katsina – Ala Local Government Area of Benue State, have killed five armed militia in an exchange of fire between the armed fighters and the soldiers.
According to a statement on Tuesday by Sagir Musa, acting Director Army Public Relations, the troops also averted what could have been a terrible clash between two Tiv clans – Shitile and Ikyora in the early hours of Monday.
The efforts of the troops, the statement said, was sequel to information received about the planned attack on Katsina – Ala town by Shitile armed bandits. Hence, the 72 SF Battalion troops laid an ambush along the suspected route where they intercepted the armed fighters/attackers.
Items recovered from the bandits include: 1 x General Purpose Machine Gun, 2 x AK 47 Rifles, 198 x 7.62 mm rounds of NATO Ammunition, 16 x 7.63 mm rounds of Special Ammunition, 2 x Vehicles and 7 x Motorcycles.
The Nigerian Army however, thanked those who provided the information that led to the success of the operation, while also reminding the public on the need to be brothers’ keepers and continue to provide useful and timely information to the nearest security agencies for decisive action.
