Nigerian Army troops in Operation Hadarin Daji, on Friday rescued 24 persons kidnapped by insurgents in the Kabugu Lamba, Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The troops were reported to have received an intelligence report on a bandit hideout at Kabugu Lamba forest where kidnapped victims were concentrated.
A military source said the troops responded swiftly with a fighting patrol to the general area.
However, on reaching the location, heavy gunfire occurred for hours between the bandits and the Nigerian Army troops and due to the troops’ superior firepower, the armed bandits fled, abandoning the victims in some isolated buildings.
In the encounter, the troops successfully rescued 24 kidnapped victims and neutralised four armed bandits, while others fled, some with gunshot wounds.
Among the rescued kidnap victims were nine women, 14 men, and an infant.
All of the rescued were handed over to the appropriate authorities to reunite them with their families.
