TheCable

Three kidnap victims have been rescued by troops of operation Forest Sanity in Birnin Gwari area of Kaduna state.

Samuel Aruwan, commissioner for internal security and home affairs in the state, announced this in a statement on Wednesday.

Aruwan said the troops, while conducting a search-and-rescue operation, raided a hideout located around Ungwan Malam Ali area and engaged bandits in a gun battle.

“Acting on credible intelligence, the troops carried out search-and-rescue operations at the hideout located around Ungwan Malam Ali,” the statement reads.

“The troops made contact with the bandits, who withdrew with gunshot wounds under the superior firepower of the advancing forces.”

He named the rescued victims as Luka Ibrahim, Yusuf Jibril, and Saminu Abdullahi.

The commissioner added that the troops recovered one AK-47 rifle, 18 rounds of ammunition, and 11 pump action cartridges from the hideout.

“The Kaduna state government received the operational feedback with satisfaction and commended the troops for another successful round of operations in the area,” he added.

“The rescued citizens have been returned to their community. Troops will continue to carry out operations in the general areas.

“Citizens are urged to immediately report suspicious individuals seeking treatment for gunshot injuries to the Security Operations Room, on the lines 09034000060 and 08170189999.”

In recent weeks, security operatives have intensified efforts in the fight to end the activities of bandits in Kaduna state and other affected areas in the country.