Troops of Operation Forest Sanity has naturised several bandits and dislodged their camps during clearance operations conducted across some hard-to-reach locations spanning Chikun and Igabi Local Government Areas of Kaduna State.
Confirming the report, the State Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said this was disclosed in operational feedback from the security agencies to the state government on Tuesday.
He said the troops neutralized an unspecified number of bandits while clearing out insurgent and bandit camps at Apewohe in Chikun Local Government Area.
Aruwan said the operation extended to Dakwala and Kunai hills also in Chikun Local Government Area, where more hideouts were cleared, though no contact was made with bandits.
He added that another camp was similarly dislodged at a location known as ‘Daban Lawal Kwalba’ in Igabi Local Government Area, after the troops overpowered heavily armed bandits guarding hostages.
He said the troops after clearing out the bandits stormed the hideouts and rescued 10 kidnapped persons who were chained and bound with ropes.
He identified the kidnapped persons as Surajo Aliyu, Ayuba Yakubu, Ibrahim Abdulrasheed, Aliyu Mohammed, Magaji Tasiu, Nasiru Ahmed, Mohammadu lbrahim, Ayuba Abdulsalam, Kelvin Musa and Paul Patrick.
Aruwan also releases images to depict the dire situation in which the hostages were found before they were untied by the troops.
He said the troops who came under further attack in the thick forest, successfully evacuated the hostages to a military facility where they are receiving medical attention before being reunited with their families.
Aruwan also said camp was cleared at Rafin Gwaska, Igabi Local Government Area, where three locally made rifles, One AK-47 magazine, One AK-47 top cover, Four Bafoeng radio chargers, Eleven mobile phones, Three music boxes, Two sets of military uniforms, One frag jacket, Spanners, knives and chains among other effects were recovered.
The Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufa’i noted the report with satisfaction, and thanked the troops for the rescue of the ten citizens.
The Governor commended the troops for the relentless spirit displayed in the ongoing operations, and encouraged them to sustain these efforts to ultimate victory.
He advised citizens not to harbour or provide medical aid to suspicious individuals carrying what may be gunshot wounds, adding such cases are to be immediately reported to the Security Operations Room on the lines 09034000060 and 08170189999.
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