By Nurat Uthman
The Nigerian Army said its troops rescued 32 kidnap victims during a search-and-rescue operation in Katsina State.
The Information Officer of Operation Hadarin Daji, Yahaya Ibrahim, in a statement on Tuesday, disclosed that the troops also killed two suspected terrorists during the operation on Saturday.
Ibrahim stated that the troops engaged the terrorists in a gun duel which led to the death of two suspected terrorists while others fled with injuries.
He said, “In continuation with the series of simultaneous well coordinated clearance operations in its areas of operational responsibilities in the North West which has continued to yield tremendous successes, troops of the Joint Task Force North West Operation Hadarin Daji operating in Katsina State have rescued 35 kidnapped victims and neutralised two terrorists in Katsina State in a search and rescue operation.
“The feat was achieved on January 27, 2024, during a clearance operation to some identified terrorist camps at Dumburum forest. During the operation, troops had an encounter with the armed terrorists, neutralising two of the terrorists while others escaped with severe gunshot wounds.”
He added that the rescued kidnapped victims including 19 male adults, 12 female adults, and four children were handed over to the Katsina State Government by the Commander, 17 Brigade Nigerian Army/Sector 2 Operation Hadarin Daji,, Brigadier General OA Fadairo.
Fadairo was said to have pledged to continue the attack on the terrorists’ enclaves.