According to the Nigerian Army, the I Division's soldiers in Kaduna neutralized three robbers and found weapons. In a statement released in Kaduna, Lt-Col Musa Yahaya, the acting deputy director of Army Public Relations for the I Division of the Nigerian Army, verified the occurrence.On November 12, troops from the Nigerian Army's I Division and Operation Whirl Punch conducted a clearance operation in the general vicinity of the Maro-Chibiya forest in Kajuru Local Government Area, Kaduna State, based on reliable intelligence.
According to the army, "troops engaged the armed bandits with superior fire power during the operation, neutralizing one of the bandits and forcing others to flee into the surrounding forest with gunshot wounds."
The army added that four rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, one cell phone, and one AK-47 rifle made locally had been taken by the forces.
Yahaya added that on November 10, during a clearance operation in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, troops from the duplication and operation Whirl Punch came into contact with bandits in the Kawara forest.
During the ensuing gunfight, soldiers shot and killed one robber and took one AK-47 weapon loaded with quantity 30 of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, one motorcycle, and one cell phone.
He said that in the Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, troops from the division carried out clearance operations at the communities of Mai-Kulu-Gwanda, Rafin Gora, Funtua Badadi, and Kabawa.
He claimed, "Troops neutralized one bandit and took one Boafeng radio and a motorcycle during the operation."
Yahaya reported that Maj-Gen. Valentine Okoro, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the I Division of the Nigerian Army and the Force Commander of Operation Whil Punch, had praised the soldiers for their valor.
Okoro ordered the troops to keep up the pace until the Division's Area of Responsibility was cleared of all bandits, terrorists, and criminal elements.