Troops rescue 14 kill one bandit in Kaduna

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna & Ahmad Muhammad, Bauchi

The Troops of Sector

Four of Operation Whirl Punch, and Special Forces of the 167 Battalion have cleared a bandit hideout during a fierce encounter in Kaduna State.

This is as Police operatives attached to the Bauchi State Command neutralised two suspected kidnappers at Rafin Gora in Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State on Friday and rescued their victim

The state Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs,Samuel Aruwan stated this in a

•As Police kill 2 suspected kidnappers in Bauchi

statement made available to the media in Kaduna yesterday.

The statement stated that the troops who embarked on a long range fighting patrol to Tukurua general area of Chikun LGA of the state , engaged and overpowered the outlaws, neutralizing one, with others fleeing in disarray.

The statement added that the troops during the operation rescued 14 kidnapped victims, comprising nine men and five women.

“The victims were moved to a secure location for debriefing and examination before being reunited with their families.

“In the course of the battle, the troops destroyed several camps. Two motorcycles were recovered during the operation.

“The Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai who expressed his elation at the report, commended the troops and praised the leadership of the Major General TA Lagbaja, GOC One Division and Force Commander of the Operation Whirl Punch.

“The Governor further extolled the professional prowess of the troops, as all the kidnapped citizens were rescued alive and unhurt”.

Meanwhile, Police operatives attached to the Bauchi State Command neutralised two suspected kidnappers at Rafin Gora in Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State on Friday and rescued their victim.

Police spokesman, SP Ahmed Wakil, stated on Sunday in Bauchi that the gun-wielding assailants invaded the home of a resident at Rafin Gora and attempted to kidnap his

28-year-old son.

“The victim resisted the kidnap attempt and was shot multiple times in his lower abdomen while trying to escape.

“Police operatives in conjunction with a local vigilance group mobilised to the scene to confront the kidnappers who welcomed them with sporadic gunshots,’’ he stated.

He added that the operatives effectively returned fire making the assailants scamper in disarray with possible gunshot wounds.

“Two of them met their waterloo, while one AK47 was recovered from them.

“The 28-year-old victim was rescued and immediately taken to the Federal Medical Centre at Birnin Kudu for treatment,’’ Wakil stated.

He added that a manhunt had begun for the fleeing suspects so they could face the law.