Troops of Operation SAHEL SANITY of Sokoto State on 15 August 2020, successfully smashed a notorious illegal arms smuggling syndicate who specializes in arms supply to bandits in the North West from across the international borders. 

Brigadier General Benard Onyeuko, Acting Director of Defence Media Operations disclosed this in a statement on Monday, 17 August 2020.

Onyeuko said the troops deployed at Forward Operation Base Sabon Birni Local Government Area of the State made the arrest in a mission he described as an unprecedented stride to finally crush banditry in the North-West zone.

The arrested bandits, Alhaji Adamu Alhassan, Salisu Adamu and Abdullahi Sani (all Nigerian), were intercepted by the eagle-eyed troops at Dantudu in Mailailai District of Sabon Birni LGA of Sokoto State.

_{Arrested Arms Dealers. Twitter @DefenceInfoNG}

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The troops recovered 6 AK 47 Rifles, 3 AK 47 Rifle magazines and 2,415 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition deceptively concealed in various parts of their vehicle.

The statement read “Preliminary investigation reveals that the dangerous consignment was meant for some bandits in Isah LGA of Sokoto State which could have led to the loss of thousands of innocent lives but for the swift interception by the vigilant troops. 

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“However, one of the arrested arms supplier, Alhaji Adamu Alhassan who is diabetic and hypertensive experienced seizure and gave up the ghost while he was being rushed to the hospital. 

“Nevertheless, investigation of the other 2 accomplices continues in order to track and arrest all those in the chain of the heinous activity in collaboration with other intelligence and security agencies from our neighbouring countries.”

In another development, on 12 August 2020, the troops destroyed 12 bandit camps at Yobe Baranda in Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State, killed 3 bandits and others escaped with various degrees of gunshot wounds, Onyeuko added. 

_{Corpse of Bandits. Twitter@DefenceInfoNG}

Relatedly, on 12 August 2020, troops of Forward Operation Base Wanke arrested a suspected bandit identified as Shehu Abdullahi while spying on traders activities in the market with the intent of organizing for their kidnap.

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_{Bandit Informants. Twitter@DefenceInfoNG}  

Similarly, the same day troops on patrol arrested another bandit informant in Magami identified as Umar Salisu. Furthermore, following the receipt of credible intelligence that some bandits were sighted at Danjibga Market, troops mobilized to the area and successfully arrested 5 suspected bandits namely Abubakar Ahmadu, Mohammed Bashir Tukur, Adamu Tahiyawo, Ibrahim Alhaji Haruna and Mohammed Yusuf.

_{Arrested Suspected Bandits. Twitter@DefenceInfoNG}

Also, on 14 August 2020, troops deployed at Forward Operation Base Kwantaragi arrested a bandit informant identified as Tukur Halilu at Mutukuda village in Maru LGA of Zamfara State. 

Items recovered from him include 2 empty AK 47 Rifle magazines, 1 magazine carrier and a broken solar panel. Also, the same day troops at Forward Operation Base Anka arrested 2 bandits’ informants identified as Mohammed Bashir and Najibu Dalha in Wuya village of Anka LGA of Zamfara State. 

According to the Acting Director, all arrested suspects are currently in custody undergoing preliminary investigation before being forwarded to appropriate prosecuting authorities.