Troops of 223 Battalion, 1 Brigade Nigerian Army, yesterday averted another attack on Dansadau town in Zamfara State by suspected cattle rustlers and armed bandits, Army Spokesman, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, said this afternoon. He said that the troops while on patrol were alerted by well meaning individuals on seeing the bandits.

“The patrol team laid an ambush for the suspected cattle rustlers and armed bandits who came in large numbers on motorcycles fully armed,” Col. Usman said in a statement. “It was gathered that they were enroute Ruwan Tofa and Babban Doka Villages in Dansadau District of Maru Local Government Area, Zamfara State, to wreak havoc on the hapless innocents of those communities.

“The troops killed 18 and wounded several armed bandits. They also recovered 11 AK-47 rifles, 1 G3 rifles, 1 locally made pistol, 11 magazines of AK-47 rifle, a magazine of G3 rifle and 161 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunitions. The troops went further and destroyed the bandits’ camp at Babban Doka general area.

“They are also combing the area for the remnants of the bandits and all those that escaped with gunshot wounds in the general area. We would like to appeal to the public to continue to assist with information on cattle rustlers, armed bandits and other criminal elements in their areas.”