Special operatives from Operation Puff Adder working in collaboration with personnel of the Special Forces have killed over 250 members of the Ansaru terrorist group.
The terrorists were said to have been killed in their hideout and stronghold located at Kuduru Forest, in Birnin Gwari, village in Kaduna State, said to be their largest operational base.
Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, said the operation which commenced in the early hours of the day, was carried out by a combined team of operatives of Operation Puff Adder.
The statement read: “Special Operatives of Operation Puff Adder of the Nigeria Police backed by the Special Forces of the Police Airwing, in a daring offensive operation, stormed one of the largest operational camps of the Ansaru Terror Group (also housing other bandits and kidnappers) located in Kuduru Forest, Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State and successfully neutralised over 250 high-profile members of the Ansaru Terror Group.
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“The operation which commenced in the early hours of today, 5th February 2020, was carried out by a combined team of operatives of Operation Puff Adder made up of the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Special Forces, Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Special Tactical Squad (STS) and Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
“The operation was necessitated by actionable intelligence linking terror and criminal elements in the super camp to a series of terror-related violence, kidnappings, gun-running, cattle rustling and other heinous crimes across the country.”
Mba disclosed that during the operation, a police bell helicopter, which provided aerial and intelligence cover for the ground troops came under attack from the bandits using sophisticated anti-aircraft rifles and GPMG.
He said the pilot and the co-pilot successfully landed the aircraft at the Air Force Base, Kaduna without further incident.
Meanwhile, the Force PRO said the Inspector-General of Police has assured citizens of safety and sustained intelligence-led operations against bandits across the length and breadth of the nation.
