By The Nigerian military has launched a fresh offensive against terrorists and bandits operating in Matazu Local Government Area and neighbouring communities in Katsina State following the death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar in captivity.
The operation, codenamed Operation CLEAN SWEEP III, is being carried out by troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, to track down and neutralise those responsible for banditry and kidnapping activities in the area.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Lt. Col. Aliyu Danja, said the operation was initiated after the abduction of Major General Abubakar and his wife by suspected terrorists and bandits. The retired military officer was later confirmed dead while in captivity.
“Troops of Joint Task Force North West Operation FANSAN YAMMA (JTF NW OPFY) have commenced a deliberate offensive operation, code-named Operation CLEAN SWEEP III, targeting terrorist and bandit elements operating within Matazu Local Government Area and adjoining communities in Katsina State.
“The operation was launched following the unfortunate incident that led to the death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, who was abducted alongside his wife by suspected terrorists and bandits in the area. The operation is aimed at locating and neutralising the perpetrators of the heinous act, dismantling criminal networks and restoring security within the affected communities,” the statement read.
According to the military, the operation commenced on Sunday, June 14, and has already recorded significant successes within the Joint Operations Area (JOA), particularly around the Dikkawa Hills and surrounding communities.
“In the course of the ongoing offensive, troops recorded notable successes in the Dikkawa Hills general area and surrounding communities. Troops conducted clearance operations on identified terrorist hideouts in Adua, Nasarawa and Karaduwa areas, where several criminal enclaves were searched and combed.
“During the operations, terrorists’ life-support structures and logistics bases were discovered and destroyed, further degrading the criminals’ ability to operate within the area,” the statement added.
The military urged residents to continue providing credible and timely information to security agencies to support ongoing efforts to track down terrorists and other criminal elements.
It assured members of the public that all information supplied would be treated with the utmost confidentiality.
