Troops of Operation Hadarin Daji- Nigerian Army, have rescued no fewer than 24 people kidnapped by bandits in Zamfara.
The service said the victims were freed after engaging the bandits in a fierce gun battle on Friday morning.
A statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, said four bandits were killed in the gun duel.
The statement read, “Troops of 223 Battalion, operating under Sector 1 of Joint Task Force, North West Operations Hadarin Daji have in a rescue operation conducted in the early hours of today, July 7, 2023, rescued 24 kidnap victims, including a child, after a shootout with notorious bandits at Kabugu Lamba; an abandoned village in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara state, North West Nigeria.
“The troops led by the Commanding Officer of the Battalion stalked and swooped on the bandits, annihilating 4 of them in a ferocious ‘fire fight’ that ensued.
“The victims, including a minor, 9 females and 14 males have been extricated and evacuated from the kidnappers’ hideout by the troops.”