Kaduna State Government said troops had rescued 13 kidnapped persons from bandits after fierce gun duel in Gwagwada in Chikun Local Government Area.
The State Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said the 13 citizens, originally from Dutse, went to work at a farm called Tanadi Farm, which is located around Bakin Kasuwa in Gwagwada general area of Chikun Local Government Area and they were attacked by the bandits in the process.
He said troops, on receiving credible intelligence of the abduction, trailed the bandits to a forest near Bana village and there engaged them in a gun duel.
Aruwan said the 13 citizens rescued included Kenth Yusuf, Izra Ali, Josiah Luka, Istifanus Suman, Helen Ibrahim, Justina Gofwen, Ibrahim Madaki, Biyaya Yusuf, Sani Bello, Lucy Dada, Anayi Ezekiel, Benjiman Daniel and Musa Usman.
The Commissioner said after the operations, the troops discovered that the bandits had shot two volunteers before their arrival.
He said the two deceased were Ezekiel Iliya and Nasara Yohanna.
Aruwan said the bandits also burnt a church and looted some houses in the area.
He said Governor Nasir el-Rufai thanked the troops and commended them warmly for the successful rescue operation.
The Governor also commiserated with the families of the deceased volunteers, and prayed for the repose of their souls.
The governor also extended his sympathy to the leadership and members of the razed church over the unfortunate attack, and directed the State Emergency Management Agency to conduct an immediate assessment of the damage.
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