TheCable

Troops of the Nigerian army have rescued 13 kidnapped victims following a gun battle with bandits in Gwagwada community, Chikun LGA of Kaduna state.

Samuel Aruwan, the state commissioner for internal security and home affairs, in a statement on Wednesday, said the victims went to work on a farm when the bandits attacked them.

He said the troops, on receiving credible intelligence about the abduction, trailed the bandits to a forest near Bana village and engaged them in a gun duel.

“The 13 citizens, originally from Dutse, went to work at a farm called Tanadi farm, which is located around Bakin Kasuwa in Gwagwada general area of Chikun LGA,” Aruwan said.

“They were attacked by the armed bandits in the process.”

According to him, those rescued include Kenth Yusuf, Izra Ali, Josiah Luka, Istifanus Suman, Helen Ibrahim, and Justina Gofwen.

Others are Ibrahim Madaki, Biyaya Yusuf, Sani Bello, Lucy Dada, Anayi Ezekiel, Benjiman Daniel, and Musa Usman.

The commissioner said after the operations, the troops discovered that the bandits had shot two volunteers before their arrival.

He said the bandits also burnt a church and looted some houses in the area.

Aruwan added that Nasir el-Rufai, the governor, commended the troops for the successful operation.

“He also commiserated with the families of the deceased volunteers and prayed for the repose of their souls,” he said.

“The governor also extended his sympathy to the leadership and members of the razed church over the unfortunate attack, and directed the State Emergency Management Agency to conduct an immediate assessment of the damage.”

Kaduna, over the months, has suffered series of attacks by bandits.