Troops of Operation Safe Haven have successfully neutralised seven bandits and recovered a cache of arms during a recent operation in the Zangon Kataf local government area of Kaduna state.

In a statement on Tuesday, Captain Oya James, the spokesperson for OPSH, revealed that the troops, while on a fighting patrol, encountered the bandits at the Kachallah high-ground and engaged them in a fierce gun battle, resulting in the neutralization of six bandits. The remaining bandits managed to escape but sustained gunshot injuries.

During the exploitation of the area, the troops recovered significant items, including one AK-47 rifle, two magazines, 52 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, one motorcycle, two Tecno phones, two packs of cigarettes, 56 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, and 112 rounds of 7.62mm NATO.

James also disclosed that the troops neutralized a suspected bandit named Musa Wada during a search operation at Kondo village in the local government area.

In the past week, the OPSH troops arrested 33 suspects involved in various crimes. Among them, five were apprehended for kidnapping, six for dealing in arms, two for murder, four for railway vandalism, and two for farm destruction.

Additionally, the operation led to the rescue of 15 kidnapped victims, the prevention of three attacks on vulnerable communities, and the prompt response to eight distress calls.