Troops of Operation Hadarin Daji have rescued 17 kidnapped victims and captured operational motorcycles from terrorists during a rescue operation.

The spokesperson for Operation Hadarin Daji, Yahaya Ibrahim, revealed in a statement on Friday that the operation took place in the Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area, specifically at Kanya village, following credible intelligence received by the troops.

Ibrahim said the rescue mission was launched when it was discovered that terrorists had kidnapped an unspecified number of individuals and were attempting to transport them towards Niger State.

“Troops swiftly mobilised and laid ambush at the suspected routes and crossing points to be used by the terrorists at Karenbana village. Subsequently, the troops’ firepower superiority forced the terrorists to abandon the victims and escape with gunshot wounds, leading to the rescue of 17 kidnapped victims,” Ibrahim said.

He stated that the 17 rescued victims, comprising 6 females and 11 males, included police personnel who had been abducted in Danko-Wasagu.

Ibrahim also noted that the victims were promptly handed over to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) at Bena for the purpose of reuniting them with their families and troops recovered five motorcycles that were burned.

He added that the Commander of the Joint Task Force, General Godwin Mutkut, commended the timely response of the troops, charged them to do more and continued to deny the terrorists any freedom of action.

Ibrahim also applauded the timely information provided by the people, which led to the rescue of the victims, urging them to be more vigilant and quickly report to the troops any activities of the terrorists within their communities.