The Nigerian Army says troops of 1 Division have neutralised four insurgents while others escaped with gunshot wounds in a fire fight in Birnin Gwari local government area of Kaduna State.
Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 1 Division Nigerian Army, Lt.-Col. Musa Yahaya disclosed this in a Thursday statement.
According to the statement, recovered 3 AK 47 rifles, 7 AK 47 rifle magazines and 2 motorcycles during the Tuesday, February 6 operation.
Yahaya added that troops of the Division deployed at Birnin Gwari also received a tip off on insurgents’ movement on Wednesday, February 7.
He said the troops swiftly moved to intercept the insurgents at Kwaga village.
“The insurgents who could not withstand the fire power of the troops absconded into the forest in disarray abandoning their victims.
“The troops successfully rescued all 11 victims namely; Zakari Galadima 54 years (male), Ishaku Galadima 50 years (male), Habibu Illaysu 40 years (male), Nuzuli Ibrahim 18 years (male), Ramatu Aliyu 60 years (female), Ubaida Mubarak 30 years (female), Zaliha Mubarak 9 months (female), Umma Haruna 22 years (female), Khairatu Salisu 34 years (female), Rahamatu Usman 43 years (female), Rakiyia Yahaya 24 years (female) and recovered 1 motorcycle,” he said.
Yahaya said preliminary investigation revealed that the victims were kidnapped on Tuesday, February 6 from their village at Masuku in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
“The victims were rendered medical attention by medical team of the Division and reunited with their families,” the Army spokesman said.
Yahaya said the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 1 Division and Force Commander Operation WHIRL PUNCH, Maj.-Gen. Valentine Okoro commended the troops for success.
He said the GOC appealed to the general public to continue to avail troops and other security agencies with real time intelligence.
He added that the GOC appealed to locals to report persons with gunshot wounds seeking paramedics’ attention to the troops or other security agencies for prompt action.