Troops have neutralised activities of some bandits in Zamfara, in an operation to rid the state of criminal elements.

The troops also captured one of the bandits alive.

According to a statement by Maj. Clement Abiade, the Acting Force Information Officer of the ongoing Operation Sharan Daji, however, said two soldiers and two members of the vigilante were killed in the encounter.

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

The 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.