Men of the Nigerian armed forces and operatives of the Nigeria Police on Friday engaged bandits, rescued kidnap victims and killed one of the bandits, leaving others with bullet wounds on Kaduna-Zaria express way.
Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, who confirmed the development in a statement said, people kidnapped by the bandits were rescued and cattle rustled recovered.
The Commissioner said, the bandits had earlier attacked a Fulani settlement at Kukumake village where they kidnapped people and rustled cattle.
According to him, “troops and police operatives in the early hours of today, Friday, 7th May, 2021 engaged armed bandits in the Rigachikun axis of the Kaduna-Zaria dual carriage way in Igabi LGA.”The bandits had earlier attacked a Fulani settlement belonging to a popular herder, Damina Kukumake, at Kukumake village.
“The bandits, who kidnapped some members of the herder’s family, also rustled several cattle and were making their escape when security agencies received a distress call. The security personnel comprising troops of the army and air force, as well as police operatives, made contact with the bandits as they attempted to cross the Kaduna-Zaria expressway. In the fierce gun duel, a notorious bandit, one Habu Bawale, was neutralized. Many other bandits escaped with bullet wounds.
“During the gunfight, the abducted hostages escaped and the rustled cattle scattered. After a check, the remaining cattle were recovered as some were confirmed to have been killed in the skirmish. Troops and police operatives are now combing the general area in a clearance operation. Governor Nasir El-Rufai who received the report, commended the troops and police operatives for the successful operation which foiled the bandits’ attack. He praised their spirited efforts in neutralizing one of the bandits, and enabling the escape of the kidnapped citizens,” Aruwan said.
