A total of 35 kidnapped victims have been rescued by soldiers in Katsina State.
The victims were among those abducted a week ago in Tashar Nagulle and Nahuta communities in the Batsari local government area of the state.
The bandits had demanded a ransom of N60 million to free them; however, their sudden regaining of freedom enforced by the soldiers stirred up celebration across the area.
The chairman of Batsari local government area, Yusuf Mamman-Ifo, said the people were happy with the latest developments, especially since all the victims are in good health.
“The success was due to prayers and the support the state governor gives us and security agents. He always encourages us to team up and work with security agents in situations like this.
“The colonel here did a good job. We will continue to provide the security agents with intelligence,” he said.
One of the rescued victims, Maryam Nagulle, narrated how she was abducted alongside several others and forced to walk for about seven and half hours before they reached the terrorists’ camp in the forest where they were kept in a single room.
She said, “We were locked in the room they kept us and when we heard loud gunshots, the terrorists ran away while the soldiers continued to shoot. We couldn’t open the room because they asked us not to. The soldiers then came and asked us to follow them.”
Airstrikes Wipe Out 30 Terrorists in Kaduna
Meanwhile, precision airstrikes by the air component of Operation Whirl Punch has eliminated a syndicate of 30 terrorists on 15 motorcycles in Kaduna State.
A statement by the director of public relations and information, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, said the strike followed an intelligence report of the movement of the terrorists along the Kwiga-Kampamin Doka axis in Birnin Gwari local government area of Kaduna State.
He said the intel also revealed that the same syndicate was responsible for the ambush on troops at Kwanan Mutuwa on January 27, 2024 as well as several attacks and abduction of innocent civilians in Birnin Gwari.
Gabkwet said the terrorists were trailed to a location where they converged before they were engaged and neutralised in a precision strike.
“On arrival at the suspected location, a deliberate and detailed scan revealed a trail of terrorists sighted moving in a convoy of about 15 motorcycles, each with at least two armed terrorists.
“The aftermath of the air strike revealed that several of the terrorists were eliminated as a result of the strike,” he said.
The chief of the air staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, who has commended the Air Component commander, further charged him to sustain the momentum.
