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2 Nigerian Soldiers, 2 Vigilantes Killed In Zamfara

(FILES) -- A file photo taken on June 5, 2013 shows Nigerian soldiers patrolling in the north of Borno state close to a Islamist extremist group Boko Haram former camp near Maiduguri. Nigeria's military on June 8, 2015 said it had begun shifting the command centre for its battle against Boko Haram from the capital to Maiduguri in the northeast, following a directive from President Muhammadu Buhari. Buhari announced the move in his inaugural speech on May 29, saying the Islamist insurgents would not be defeated until military command and control was transferred to the city at the heart of the uprising. "A reconnaissance and advance team for the establishment of Military Command and Control Centre (MCCC) for OPERATION ZAMAN LAFIYA for the fight against terrorism and insurgency has moved to Maiduguri," an army statement said. AFP PHOTO / Quentin LeboucherQuentin Leboucher/AFP/Getty Images

A statement by Maj. Clement Abiade, the Acting Force Information Officer of the ongoing Operation Sharan Daji, has revealed two soldiers and two members of the vigilante were killed in an encounter with bandits in Zamfara.

Troops have neutralized their activities in an operation to rid the state of criminal elements. The troops also captured one of the bandits alive.

Abiade said eight other soldiers and six vigilantes sustained various degrees of gunshot injuries.

According to him, troops also rescued 75 captives of the bandits after destroying 18 of their camps in the state.

He said that the freed captives mostly from local communities in Zamfara, had been debriefed and reunited with their families.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that items recovered from the bandits include five Fabric National Rifles, four AK Rifles, 10 locally made rifles, one locally fabricated pistol and 40 motorcycles.

According to Abiade, the clearance operations of bandits’ enclaves in Zamfara and Katsina States which began on Jan. 20 would continue till June.