Joint security operatives on Tuesday morning engaged in a gun duel with armed groups along Ummadau and Kwayawa villages in Katsina State, the police said.
The operation led to the killing of six members of a terror group, the rescue of 23 victims and recovery of 74 animals, 12 motorcycles and rifles during the operation.
HumAngle learnt that security forces, namely the police, the air force and the army, were involved in the operations.
The security operatives accosted the bandits at the location following distress calls that they had attacked Lambo village, Wurma Ward in Kurfi Local Government Area of the state where they killed two persons and kidnapped 23 others.
The terrorists, numbering more than 30, were said to have rustled 74 domestic animals.
The security operatives killed six of the terrorists and rescued all the kidnapped victims and recovered the animals.
Confirming the incident, the Katsina State Police Command Spokesman, SP Gambo Isa, said “On 29/12/2020 at about 02:30hrs, bandits numbering over 30, shooting sporadically with AK 47 rifles, attacked Lambo village, Wurma Ward, Kurfi LGA of Katsina State, killed two persons and kidnapped 17 women and six children.
Personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, and Nigerian Air Force were alerted and they blocked all their possible escape routes.
“Consequently, the teams laid siege for the hoodlums between Ummadau to Kwayawa village and engaged them in a fierce gun duel, as a result of which six bandits were killed, all the 23 kidnapped victims were rescued, 23 cows, 20 sheep, and 31 goats recovered, 12, motorcycles and one G3 rifle recovered.
“Search parties are still combing the area with a view to arresting more suspected bandits and/or recovering their dead bodies.
Investigation is ongoing.
In a related development, the Defence Media Coordinator, John Enenche, a Major General added that “ troops rescued 18 women and five children as well as recovered 75 rustled livestock.
“During the encounter, troops also arrested one bandits’ informant named Mohammed Saleh along with some arms and ammunition.
“The rescued kidnapped victims have been successfully reunited with their families and the recovered livestock handed over to the owners, while the arrested bandits’ informants have been handed over to appropriate prosecuting agencies for further action.”
Katsina State in the Northwest region is facing frequent attacks in some communities.
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