5th March, 2024
By Maduabuchi Nmeribeh
A notorious terrorist simply identified as Maikusa and alleged to be the second-in-command in the hierarchy of the terrorists’ cell in Katsina state led by wanted Modi Modi was killed by troops during a shootout on Monday.
Maikusa and three other terrorists were gunned down by troops carrying out a counter-insurgency operation in Kurfi and Safana Local Government Areas of Katsina State, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations said in a statement on Tuesday.
Nwachukwu added that the ferocious operation also resulted in the successful clearance of terrorists’ enclaves in these areas.
“During the operation, troops encountered vehement resistance from the violent extremists, but gallantly overpowered the terrorists with superior firepower neutralizing some while others fled in disarray.
“After the firefight, the troops recovered two AK-47 rifles, three magazines, 65 rounds of 7.62 mm Special ammunition, a locally fabricated gun and camouflage uniform,” the Army spokesman said.
He also revealed that in continuation of the clearance operations, troops also destroyed terrorists’ camps in Wurma, Shaiskawa, Yauni, and Dogon Marke villages in Kurfi LGA, as well as Ummadau and Zakka villages in Safana LGA.
“The troops have continued to maintain an aggressive posture in the general area to clear remnants of the terrorists cell to ensure safety and security in the region,” he said.
The police and Katsina state government on Sunday placed N50 million bounty on Modi Modi and Jan Kare, two notorious bandits leading most of the cruel operations that have consumed many lives and property running into billions of Naira in the State.
Our Correspondent gathered that the police in synergy and conjunction with sister-security agencies have also launched aggressive manhaunt, in serach of Modi Modi, Jan Kare and their gang members.
A top government source also revealed to our Correspondent that the state Governor, Mallam Dikko Radda, has given a standing order to security agencies in the state, for a renewed fight against bandits and other criminal agents jeopardizing socio-economic activities in the state.
“Governor Radda is giving all necessary support and encouragement to security agencies in the state. He has ordered them to flush out bandits. He is determined to return peace, order and socio-economic srability in Katsina state. As I speak to you, all security agencies in the state are well mobilized to do their job and achieve results,” the source added.
In a statement released on Sunday by the Public Relations Officer of Katsina state Police Command, ASP Abubakar Sadiq, the police promised to gift N50 million to anybody who provides useful information on how to nab the two wanted bandits.
The statement partly reads: “The Katsina State Police Command wishes to announce a substantial reward of N50,000,000:00 to any individual who provides valuable information that will lead to the arrest of two bandits’ kingpins popularly known as Modi Modi and Jan Kare operating within Katsina State, particularly in the regions of Kankara and Safana Local Government Areas.