Troops
Troops of Operation Forest Sanity have neutrized several bandits and dislodged camps during clearance operations conducted across some hard-to-reach locations, spanning Chikun and Igabi Local Government Areas.
In a statement by Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna State on Tuesday, the state government said the troops neutralized an unspecified number of bandits while clearing out insurgent and bandit camps at Apewohe in Chikun Local Government, disclosed in an operational feedback.
The operation, according to Aruwan, extended to Dakwala and Kunai hills in the same LGA, where more hideouts were cleared, though no contact was made with bandits.
He said another camp was similarly dislodged at a location known as ‘Daban Lawal Kwalba’ in Igabi LGA, after the troops overpowered heavily armed bandits guarding hostages.
The troops after clearing out the bandits stormed the hideouts and rescued ten kidnapped persons who were chained and bound with ropes.
The Commissioner also said the troops had since untied the hostages, who were identified as follows with their families.
He identified the hostages as Surajo Aliyu, Ayuba Yakubu, Ibrahim Abdulrasheed, Aliyu Mohammed and Magaji Tasiu.
Others include Nasiru Ahmed, Mohammadu lbrahim, Ayuba Abdulsalam, Kelvin Musa and Paul Patrick.
According to him, the troops, who came under further attack in the thick forest, successfully evacuated the hostages to a military facility where they are receiving medical attention before being reunited with their families.
Furthermore, a camp was cleared at Rafin Gwaska, Igabi Local government, where the following items were recovered, among other effects:
– Three locally made rifles
– One AK-47 magazine
– One AK-47 top cover
– Four Bafoeng radio chargers
– Eleven mobile phones
– Three music boxes
– Two sets of military uniforms
– One frag jacket
– Spanners, knives and chains
“The Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufa’i noted the report with satisfaction, and thanked the troops for the rescue of the ten citizens. The Governor commended the troops for the relentless spirit displayed in the ongoing operations, and encouraged them to sustain these efforts to ultimate victory.
“Citizens are strongly advised not to harbour or provide medical aid to suspicious individuals carrying what may be gunshot wounds. Such cases are to be immediately reported to the Security Operations Room on the lines 09034000060 and 08170189999,”