Men of the Nigerian Army have killed scores of bandits and rescued 10 chained hostages in the Chikun and Igabi local government areas of Kaduna State.
According to the State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, who confirmed the incident in a statement on Tuesday, said the troops neutralised the bandits while on clearance operations across the two LGAs, adding that some weapons were also recovered.
He also stated that the troops, after clearing out the bandits, stormed hideouts and rescued 10 kidnapped persons who were chained and tied with ropes.
The statement reads in part: “Troops of Operation Forest Sanity neutralised several bandits and dislodged camps during clearance operations conducted across some hard-to-reach locations spanning Chikun and Igabi LGAs.
“As disclosed in an operational feedback, the troops neutralised an unspecified number of bandits while clearing out insurgent and bandit camps at Apewohe in Chikun LGA.
“The operation extended to Dakwala and Kunai hills in the same LGA, where more hideouts were cleared, though no contact was made with bandits.
“Another camp was similarly dislodged at a location known as ‘Daban Lawal Kwalba’ in Igabi LGA, after the troops overpowered heavily armed bandits guarding hostages.
“The troops after clearing out the bandits stormed the hideouts and rescued 10 kidnapped persons who were chained and bound with ropes. The images attached depict the dire situation in which the hostages were found.
“Their names are Surajo Aliyu, Ayuba Yakubu, Ibrahim Abdulrasheed, Aliyu Mohammed, Magaji Tasiu, Nasiru Ahmed, Mohammadu lbrahim, Ayuba Abdulsalam, Kelvin Musa and Paul Patrick.”