Troops of the 22 Armoured Brigade, Sobi, Kwara State, have killed a bandit and recovered an AK-47 rifle, ammunition and a motorcycle during an operation along Lema-Daban Lema road in Edu Local Government Area of the state.
The soldiers, attached to the Forward Operating Base, Patigi, launched an ambush around 12:10 a.m. on Wednesday following credible intelligence on the movement of armed men in the area.
Army spokesperson for the brigade, Captain Stephen Nwankwo, said in a statement that the criminals were engaged in a gun battle but were forced to retreat after the troops overpowered them with superior firepower.
He added that during a follow-up sweep along the withdrawal route, one bandit was neutralised.
Items recovered included an AK-47 rifle, a magazine loaded with 30 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, and a motorcycle.
Captain Nwankwo noted that the remains of the dead bandit had been handed over to the appropriate authorities.
The Commander of the Brigade, Brigadier General Ezra Barkins, commended the troops for their vigilance and resilience, urging them to sustain the momentum against criminal gangs.
He also reaffirmed the brigade’s commitment to intensifying operations and “employing all legitimate means to eradicate criminal elements while safeguarding the lives and property of law-abiding citizens within its joint operations area.”