Troops of 1 Division Nigerian Army, Kaduna, under Exercise Harbin Kunama III, have rescued 13 farmers, who were kidnapped while working in their farm in the outskirts of Kuyelo community, Birnin Gwari Local Area of Kaduna State.
Eleven rescued persons have also been handed over to Zamfara State Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle by Commissioner of Police Usman Nagoggo at the Government House in Gusau on Sunday.
The Army division said the troops killed one of the bandits in Kaduna as the others escaped with gunshot wounds.
A statement issued yesterday in Kaduna by the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Ezindu Idimah, said: โFollowing distress calls received from good Samaritans indicating the abduction of some farmers while working on their farms at the outskirts of Kuyelo community, in Birnin Gwari Local Area of Kaduna State, a patrol team from 1 Division Nigerian Army stationed at Super Camp Kuyello, on Exercise Harbin Kunama III, swiftly pursued the bandits/kidnappers and rescued all the 13 kidnapped farmers after a serious exchange of fire with the criminals.โ
The 1 Division spokesman, however, assured that soldiers are combing the general area, which borders Katsina, Zamfara and Kaduna states.
He quoted the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division Major General Faruk Yahaya as enjoining troops to always be proactive and decisive in dealing with criminals and associated insecurity in their respective areas of responsibilities.
But, Matawalle hailed the Zamfara State Police Command over its commitment to ensuring the restoration of peace.
The governor spoke during the handing over of abductees to the governor at the government house Gusau Sunday.
The police command, in collaboration with the state government, secured the release of 11 more abductees through the governmentโs peace initiative.
The initiative had succeeded in securing the release of 40 abducted Fulani and Hausa in the last two weeks.
The command, according to the Police Public Relation Officer, Muhammad Shehu, will sustain its collaboration with the government, other security agencies and public-spirited individuals to return the state to its peaceful glory.
