Troops neutralise 89 bandits, rescue 5 abducted in Zamfara

Troops of Operation Hadarin Daji have neutralised 89 bandits in Gidan Jaja, Zamfara, and rescued five people held in captivity.

They were supported by troops of 35 Battalion and Quick Response Group of 17 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, two helicopter gunships of the Nigerian Air Force, personnel of Nigeria Police Force and elements of Nigerien Army.

In a statement, coordinator of Defence media operations, Maj-Gen John Enenche, said 89 bandits were neutralised, and ammunitions recovered on April 25.

Items recovered include 19 AK-47 rifles, one PKT machine gun, nine magazines, 167 rounds of 7.62 (Special), one dane gun and one locally made pistol

Enenche noted that 322 rustled cattle, 77 motorcycles and nine cell phones were recovered.

Troops also rescued five kidnap victims comprising three females and two males were rescued.

Those rescued are Amadu Rufa’i, 45years and Habibu Yakubu, 25years both of Mazanya village in Jibia local council of Katsina State, and three girls: Hauwa’u Lawali,13 years, Khadija Rabe, 13 years and Sumayya Rabe, 10 years all of Karamne village in Madarumfa region of Niger republic.

Narrating their ordeals, Rufai said they were kidnapped while working on their farms while the girls said they were hawking onions in Gurbi, s a neighbouring town in Zamfara State, when the bandits whisked them away.

He said they spent five days in captivity while the bandits demanded N10 million ransom from their families before both the military aircraft and ground troops struck.

Officials said the formal handover of  kidnap victims and rustled cows will be carried out following due process.

Sources told Daily Trust they noticed movement of troops with heavy weaponry in the area shortly before the attack.