*Rescue kidnapped victims, destroy bandits’ camps in Chikun LGA

In the on-going campaign of taking the battle to the doorsteps of the bandits, troops of the Nigerian Army Operation Whirl Punch neutralized armed bandits in a location several kilometers off Kaduna-Abuja Road.

According to an operational feedback, troops acting on credible intelligence carried out aggressive fighting patrols to Abasiya-Amale area located east of Polewire in Kachia LGA, where they engaged the bandits.

In the fierce battle, the troops overpowered the bandits and subsequently destroyed their hideouts. Troops are still combing the general area at the time of this update, while the corpses of two neutralized bandits have been recovered.

The following items were also recovered:

-One AK-47 rifle
– Two magazines carrying 38 rounds of ammunition
– One cell phone

There are strong indications that some bandits escaped with life threatening injuries and might be seeking medical assistance in the general area. To this end, locals are warned to refrain from rendering any assistance to questionable elements, and should instead report such matters to the following numbers:

09034000060
08170189999

The public will be intimated on further developments.

In another recorded breakthrough against the bandits, troops of Operation Forest Sanity responded to reports of an attack around Dende-Buruku Junction along the Damba-Dende-Buruku Road, Chikun LGA.

The troops mobilized to the location and made contact with bandits at Rafin Kaura. The bandits fled from the advancing troops, who then rescued two victims who had been kidnapped in transit:
– Amina Kasim
– Yunusa Usman

The rescued victims have been linked up with vehicles conveying them to their original destinations.

The troops subsequently cleared the bandit camps in the general area.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai who received the operational feedback with gratitude, commended the officers and men of the Armed Forces and other agencies under the leadership of GOC One Division, Major General TA Lagbaja, presently pursuing the onslaught against bandits and terrorists elements.

Signed

Samuel Aruwan
Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna State.