TheCable

The Nigerian army says it killed five suspected bandits in a gun battle along Funtua-Birnin Gwari road, Kaduna state.

According to NAN, Muhammad Dole, deputy director, army public relations, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

Dole said the troops responded to a distress call about an armed robbery attack along the road on Tuesday.

“While on hunt for the armed robbers, they (soldiers) were ambushed by suspected bandits, they however fought their way and overpowered the bandits who hastily withdrew into Kwuyambana forest in Zamfara state,” he said.

“During the pursuit of the bandits in the forest, the dead bodies of five bandits were found.

“Among the eliminated bandits was a notorious bandit from Zamfara identified as Sani Danbuzuwa.

“Regrettably, we lost one soldier while the two others injured are currently receiving treatment in the military hospital in Kaduna.

“The troops have also succeeded in the arrest of a wanted vicious kidnapper and expert in negotiations for ransom, called Yinusa Suleiman from Sambuwa village.

“The suspect is currently assisting the security operatives in further investigations.”

He added that after a thorough search of the operation area, weapons including one AK47 rifle, three magazines and 87 rounds of 7.62mm (special), one G3 rifle, four magazines and 61 rounds of 7.62mm were recovered.