Troops destroy bandits’ den, rescue four kidnapped victims in Kaduna

In Kajuru Local Government Area, Kaduna State, Nigerian Army troops have destroyed bandits’ camps and freed at least four abducted victims.

The revelation was revealed in a statement released on Wednesday night by Lt-Col. Musa Yahaya, acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 1 Division, Nigerian Army.

Yahaya reported that on Monday, July 31, 2023, the military freed the captives who had been kidnapped.

It read, “In continuation of its sustained operation against bandits, kidnappers, cattle rustlers and other criminal elements in the North-West, troops of 1 Division, Nigerian Army, acting on credible intelligence has carried out a clearance operation in Kajuru Local Government of Kaduna State.”

He said that forces encountered bandits during the clearance operation and confronted them head-on.

He claimed that because of their superior firepower, they forced them to release their prisoners and fled, suffering varying degrees of bullet wounds.

“The troops successfully rescued four kidnapped victims, captured bandits’ motorcycle and destroyed their camp,”  Yahaya added.

Yayaha, the General Officer Commanding, 1 Division, Nigerian Army, and Force Commander, Operation Whirl Punch, Maj.-Gen. Bamidele Alabi, praised the troops for their tenacity and professionalism both before and throughout the operation.

He ordered the military with maintaining momentum in order to put a stop to the criminal operations of bandits, livestock rustlers, and other criminals in the state for good.

He also urged all law-abiding persons to go about their regular business and provide timely and trustworthy intelligence to the Nigerian Army and other security authorities.