Troops of Sector 1, Operation Hadarin Daji in Zamfara State, have neutralised 10 armed bandits, rescued nine kidnap victims and recovered several weapons.
After receiving credible information on bandits’ movement with some kidnap victims from Sokoto State through Gadazaima village in Zamfara State, the troops carried out the operation in the early hours of Tuesday.
An offensive ambush operation was mobilised within the village, and contact with the armed bandits reportedly lasted for hours.
A top military source, who preferred anonymity told Channels Television that the troops’ superior firepower forced the bandits to abandon the kidnap victims and withdraw in disarray.
He disclosed that 10 armed bandits were neutralised while an unconfirmed number of them fled with gunshot wounds.
In an attempt to escape the troops’ onslaught, several of the bandits drowned in a swampy river, while two were captured alive during pursuit by the troops.
Six AK-47 rifles, one PKT machine gun, and five magazines were recovered from the criminals.
Also, 20 rounds of 7.62MM special ammunition, three mobile phones, two solar panels, one sewing machine, and the sum of N2,410,000 cash were recovered from the bandits.
The nine kidnap victims, who are all from Sokoto State, were successfully rescued.
One female victim was reportedly killed by the bandits in the firefight, while the rest rescued victims were handed over to the appropriate authorities to reunite them with their families.
