Army kills 21 bandits, rescues kidnapped victims in Katsina

The Nigerian Army under ‘Operation Sahel Sanity’, Thursday night in a gun duel killed 21 bandits, lost three soldiers and rescued three kidnapped victims including an eight-month-old infant who have been in the custody of the criminals for more than 23 days.

Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brigadier-General Bernard Onyeuko, in a press release issued on Friday from, said troops of Operation Sahel Sanity responded swiftly and immediately mobilized to the general area where they successfully cleared the village of the marauders to the admiration of the locals.”

“During the encounter, troops successfully neutralized 21 bandits while others escaped with gunshot wounds into the forest as evident by the trails of blood along the criminals’ escape route.’’

“In the aftermath of the decisive encounter, the gallant troops successfully rescued three kidnapped victims including an eight-month-old baby who have been in the custody of the criminals for more than 23 days. The troops also recovered one AK 47 rifle, one AK 47 magazine and three Motorcycles from the fleeing bandits.”

Onyeuko also confirmed that one officer and two soldiers were killed in the encounter while two other soldiers were wounded in the action and were receiving medical treatment in a military medical facility and responding positively.

He said the troops remained committed to the safety of lives and properties of the people in the North-West and urged them to continue to avail troops with timely and credible information that would assist in the conduct of operations to rout the criminal elements in the area.