[Nigerian Tribune] OFFICERS and men of 1 Mechanized Brigade, Sokoto, in conjunction with sister security organizations, have smashed a terrorist hideout at Gidan Dare area, near Arkilla Junction in Sokoto metropolis, where they killed one suspected terrorist, captured another and secured five women, including two pregnant ones and six children, who were family members of the suspects.Assisted by the officers and men of the 55 Air Force Forward Base, Sokoto, the Sokoto State police command and the Department of State Security (DSS), Brigade Commander, Brigadier-General Mohammed Tasi'u Ibrahim and his men engaged the suspected Death Eaters in a heavy gunduel that lasted for eight hours, between 2.00 a.m to 10.00 a.m on Thursday.
In a press briefing, the brigade commander said the joint military operation was as a result of a tip-off from members of the public.
He said the operation was a huge success, as the suspected terrorists, who were hell-bent on breaching the peace during the Ramadan fast, recorded fatalities leading to the death of a suspect and the capture of another.
Brigadier-General Tasi'u said in keeping with military rule of engagement, the family members of the Death Eaters were safe, with one of the two pregnant women receiving treatment at the brigade military facility.
He said apart from securing five women, six children of various ages, who were members of family of the suspected terrorists, were also secured.
The brigade commander said they recovered six AK-47 rifles and one pump action rifle, as well as 13 magazines of ammunition and seven improvised bombs (IEDs) materials.
He added that the security agencies also recovered seven 6.2 mm ammunition rounds, 12 locally-made bombs and timers, 9 mm pistol quantity 87, five masking tapes, six packets of electronic cables used for making IEDs, 56 detonator cables, 32 nine rolls of batteries, one axe, four handsets, 56 SIM cards, three memory cards, three handset chargers, 10 Hollandia milk cartons and N76,000 cash, among other things.
The Sokoto brigade commander said from the items recovered, the suspected Death Eaters did not mean well for the country.
He assured members of the public of the determination of the security personnel in the state to keep faith with their oath, to ensure security of life and property of the people.