The Nigerian Army said it has arrested no fewer than 12 suspected members of the dreaded Mahmuda which reportedly occupied the Kanji Lake National Park.

According to reports, the group had before now allegedly maimed, exploited, terrorised and took advantage of residents of neighbouring border communities in Baruten and Kaiama Local Governments of Kwara and Borgu Local Government in Niger State.

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division, Major General Obinna Onubogu who recently visited the camps in Kaiama and Baruten local governments, disclosed this on Saturday during his Saturday visit.

He said that the 12 suspects were arrested by the military at various locations during raids of the Kanji Lake National Park and the border communities.

Two of them were confirmed members of the arm bandit group while others are to be accomplices in the criminal act, he said.

“The counter insurgency operation code named ‘Park strike four’ is meant to among other things flush out the bandits and clear the Kanji lake national park of all criminal tendencies”, he hinted.

The army chief told journalists that the men and officers in the operation are not resting on their oars to restore sanity at the park, raising the hope of the people in the area.

He said, Through the raid, the troops successfully combed a distance of at least 90 kilometres from Kemanji into the Kanji forest where it is firm based now.

During his trip, the GOC who said the mission is already being accomplished added that: “both the men and officers have succeeded in dislodging the bandits and other criminal elements.”

After interacting with the troops, Gen. Onubogu also visited the Emir of Kaiama, Alhaji Muazu Sheu Omar and the Head of Kemanji Community known as Shao’ki, Aliyu Siki-Muhammed where he raised the hope of the locals, boosted their morale and restored their confidence.

It would be recalled that the COAS, during his last visit to the state, gave his men one month matching order to flush out the bandits.

The 2 Division of the Nigerian Army following the orders of the COAS, Lt. General Olufemi Oluyede has since deployed troops to border communities in Kwara and Niger States.