Troops of 1 Division of the Nigerian Army on Wednesday eliminated a notorious bandit kingpin identified as Boderi who allegedly orchestrated many high-profile kidnappings including the Yauri school girls, Greenfield University and the Nigerian Defence Academy attacks.
Boderi was said to have been killed alongside another kingpin, Bodejo in the ambush.
This was disclosed by the Director, Army Public Relations, Maj-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu in a statement dated February 22, 2024.
Nwachukwu stated that the operation was carried out in an ambush along the Bada – Riyawa axis on the Kaduna – Birnin Gwari Road.
“In the encounter, troops neutralised 6 insurgents and recovered 2 AK 47 rifles, 5 AK 47 rifle magazines, 300 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition and 19 motorcycles which were destroyed insitu.
“Intelligence sources are reporting that the notorious bandit Kingpin Boderi who orchestrated many high-profile kidnappings including the Yauri school girls, Greenfield University and Nigerian Defence Academy attacks was killed alongside another kingpin, Bodejo in the ambush. Efforts are on to authenticate this using other means,” the statement noted.
In a separate operation in the Igabi, Giwa and Birnin Gwari Local Government Areas of Kaduna State, the troops of the 1 Division “neutralised insurgents and recovered more firearms and ammunition in encounters with the insurgents.
However, the troops have “projected ongoing operations to flush out the insurgents from these areas and bring succour to the people.
The army director of public relations added that the army troops, while on a patrol, got engaged in a gunfire duel with insurgents along the Maganda-Dausayi – Mugaba axis,
He stated that though the number of insurgents couldn’t be determined, the “troops neutralised 2 of the insurgents and recovered 1 AK 47 rifle,1 AK 47 Magazine, 3 rounds of 7.62mm Special , 1 Techno phone, 3 Hilux and motorcycle keys, wraps of substance suspected to be marijuana, tramadol tablets and the sum of 13,200 Naira only,” in the gun duel that lasted for about an hour.
The statement read, “While on a fighting patrol along the Maganda-Dausayi – Mugaba axis, troops came under fire from insurgents who employed rustled herds of cattle as shields while they engaged the troops with direct fire.
“The insurgents whose number could not be ascertained fired several shots at the troops from the cover of the herds of livestock prompting an immediate response from troops.
“Unfortunately, in the encounter, some of the rustled livestock used as a shield by the insurgents were caught in the crossfire. Troops are still on the trail of the fleeing insurgents and remain resolute on ridding the area of responsibility of armed violence.”
Nwachukwu urged the public to continue to cooperate with the Nigerian Army and other security agencies in the ongoing war against terrorism and insurgency in the country.