Guardian Nigeria
.Two bandits’ informants shot dead, 18 hostages rescued
A com team of military and paramilitary operatives have killed one insurgent in Katsina State and rescued 18 abducted persons.
Spokesperson to the Governor, Ibrahim Mohammed, said the security operations took place in Danmusa Local Council.
In Kaduna State, bandits invaded Unguwar Jibo and Nasarawa communities in Kachia Local Council and chased away farmers from their farms, just as two informants to bandits were reportedly shot dead by troops.
Mohammed, who credited the information to a ‘military source’, said rustled animals were also recovered during the operation.
“In a series of successful operations conducted on May 22, 2024, the Nigerian Armed Forces Combat Team One, in conjunction with the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and Katsina Community Watch Corps, neutralised one insurgent and rescued 18 kidnap victims.
“According to a credible source from the military, the first clearance operation occurred about 10.30 am while acting on intelligence of insurgency near the Maidabino River Line and Kanawa villages in Danmusa,” he stated.
He noted that the recovered cattle were handed over to officials of Danmusa council for further action.
“The troops engaged the insurgents, forcing them to flee and abandon their captives. A total of 18 victims, consisting of one male, nine females and eight children, were successfully rescued. The rescued individuals, reportedly from Safana Local Council, have since been reunited with their families,” the military source noted.
A community leader, under the condition of anonymity, confirmed to journalists that the Kaduna incident on Monday when some farmers from the two communities were cultivating their farmland.
According to the community leader, the bandits, who wore army uniforms and had AK-47 rifles, ordered the farmers to leave the farms or pay the supreme price.
According to him, the bandits accused the farmers from the two communities of giving information to troops about their movement.
Meanwhile, two suspected bandits’ informants were reportedly shot dead near Maraban Bishini in the area.
A vigilante, who preferred anonymity, alleged that the two informants were conveying foodstuffs and drugs on motorcycles to the bandits when the troops gave them a hot chase.
He said, “Upon sighting the troops, the suspected informants abandoned their motorcycle and ran into the bush, but the troops immediately opened fire on them on the spot.”
Kaduna Police Command has not reacted to the activities of the bandits. However, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Hassan Mansur, had yet to confirm the incident at the time of filing the report.
