Soldiers kill 2 bandits, rescue 5 victims in Kaduna

Soldiers have gunned down two bandits and rescued five kidnapped residents of Kurutu village in Kachia LGA of Kaduna State.

A community leader from the area, who disclosed the incident to our reporter on the telephone on Tuesday, said the victims were rescued during an operation by the troops on Monday.

He said the victims were abducted last week on their farms, when bandits wielding AK-47 rifles invaded their farm and took them away.

He said the troops, who were led by some hunters, engaged the bandits in a fierce gun battle, adding that the bandits fled and abandoned the captives after they were overpowered.

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A security source, who preferred anonymity, also confirmed the rescue of the victims, saying the bandits retreated after a heavy gun fire with the troops.

He said some of the bandits fled with bullet injuries, even as he said the victims had been reunited with their families through a community leader in the area.

City & Crime also reliably gathered that two suspected bandit informants were arrested at Bishini Junction by troops in the area.

It was learnt that the suspects who were on a motorcycle were carrying food stuffs, drugs, cough syrups and wine to be conveyed to bandits at their camp when they were apprehended.

The spokesman of the Kaduna State Police Command ASP Hassan Mansur is yet to confirm the incident as at the time of filing the report.