Troops of the Nigerian Army’s ‘Operation Sahel Sanity’ have rescued two teenage girls kidnapped by armed bandits at Munhaye village, in Katsina State.
According to reports, the duo were kidnapped by suspected bandits at Dan-Aji village, in Faskari LGA of the State. The troops, deployed at Angwan-Doka, rescued the teenagers during a clearance operation, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), said in a statement, yesterday.
In a press statement issued by the Army’s Ag. Director of the Defence Media Operations (DMO), Brig. Gen. Bernard Onyeuko, troops, while on routine patrol along the fringes of Dajin-Wuta Forest, came in contact with bandits on motorcycles. But in their attempt to escape from the advancing troops, the terrified bandits ineffectively opened fire and withdrew into the forest.
Onyeuko however said the resilient troops gave them a hot pursuit with overwhelming fire power. In the aftermath of the encounter, he said, one bandit was neutralized and one AK-47 rifle loaded with 27 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition was captured, while several others are believed to have escaped with varying degrees of gunshot wounds.
According to him, troops continue to dominate the general area in search of any straying bandit.
The kidnap victims also revealed that their abductors freed them and fled on noticing troop’s presence in the area.
