Troops rescue kidnapped girls in Zamfara, Katsina

Troops conducting Operation Sahel Sanity have rescued two kidnapped girls, killed an armed bandit and recovered a rifle in Dajin Wuta forest, the acting director of defence media operations, Brigadier-General Bernard Onyeuko disclosed.

General Onyeuko said that while on a routine patrol along the fringes of the forest, troops came in contact with bandits on motorcycles. In their attempt to escape from the advancing troops, the terrified bandits ineffectively opened fire and withdrew into the forest, but the resilient troops gave them a hot pursuit with an overwhelming firepower.

“In the aftermath of the encounter, one bandit was neutralised and one AK-47 rifle loaded with 27 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition was captured while several others are believed to have escaped with varying degrees of gunshot wounds as evident in the trails of blood along their escape routes. Troops have continued to dominate the general area in search of any straying bandit.

In the same vein, troops deployed at Angwan Doka, during a clearance operation rescued 2 teenage girls at Munhaye village. Preliminary investigation revealed that the duo were kidnapped by suspected bandits at Dan Aji village in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State. The victims also revealed that their abductors fled on noticing the presence of the troops in the area.

To this end, the gallant troops of Operation Sahel Sanity are commended for the successes achieved and their commitment. They are further urged not to rest on their oars until the North-West is rid of all criminal activities. Additionally, the good people of the North-West are once more assured of the troops’ commitment to the safety of lives and property of people within the zone,’’ he said.

Daily Trust on Sunday recalls that 26 abducted girls, mostly from the same Dan Aji village, were set free after over N6million ransom was paid by their relatives.