by Troops from the 1 Division of the Nigerian Army have successfully taken down a notorious bandit kingpin known as Boderi, who was allegedly responsible for orchestrating several high-profile kidnappings, including those of the Yauri schoolgirls, Greenfield University, and the Nigerian Defence Academy attacks.
Boderi was reportedly killed alongside another kingpin, Bodejo, during an ambush along the Bada – Riyawa axis on the Kaduna – Birnin Gwari Road.
The Director of Army Public Relations, Maj-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, revealed this in a statement dated February 22, 2024.
During the operation, troops neutralized six insurgents and recovered two AK-47 rifles, five AK-47 rifle magazines, 300 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, and 19 motorcycles, which were destroyed on the spot.
Intelligence sources indicate that Boderi, who was responsible for multiple high-profile kidnappings, was eliminated in the ambush along with another kingpin, Bodejo. Efforts are underway to confirm this through other means.
In a separate operation in the Igabi, Giwa, and Birnin Gwari Local Government Areas of Kaduna State, troops of the 1 Division neutralized insurgents and recovered more firearms and ammunition in encounters with the insurgents.
The ongoing operations are aimed at flushing out insurgents from these areas and bringing relief to the local populace.
During a patrol, troops engaged in a firefight with insurgents along the Maganda-Dausayi – Mugaba axis. Although the exact number of insurgents was not determined, troops neutralized two of them and recovered weapons, ammunition, a phone, keys, suspected marijuana, tramadol tablets, and cash.
In the encounter, insurgents used rustled herds of cattle as shields while engaging the troops. Some of the livestock were caught in the crossfire, but troops remain determined to rid the area of armed violence.
Nwachukwu urged the public to continue cooperating with the Nigerian Army and other security agencies in the fight against terrorism and insurgency.
