Soldiers on patrol duty in Bauchi State have killed seven suspected kidnappers and destroyed some camps belonging to hoodlums, the Army said yesterday.
Army spokesman, Colonel Sani Usman said in a statement that troops of 33 Brigade carried out the operation, following a tip-off, which brought them in contact with the suspected kidnappers at Lame Burra forest near Dutsen Ganye, Gunduru and Kati Layin villages, Bauchi State.
Usman said they recovered 2 AK-47 rifles and 3 Dane guns at the camp.
“The troops are still combing the general area to further track down other fleeing members of the criminal gang,” he said.
He also explained that following the initial successes of the army’s Operation FOREST KUNAMA, which was aimed at clearing all livestock rustlers and armed bandits’ camps in Bauchi and Gombe States general area, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) directed the troops to maintain continued presence at the Lame-Burra forest.
“This is to prevent the criminal elements that fled from returning.
“Subsequently, 2 Forward Operation Bases (FOBs) were established at Lame and Jimi to cover the Lame and Burra axis of the forest respectively.”
He said, “Troops usually carry out periodic fighting patrols into the forest from the FOBs.
Besides, soldiers have arrested a suspected Boko Haram terrorist named Adamu Damuna. He is currently being interrogated,” Usman said.