Troops free 11 kidnapped people in Kebbi, kill two suspected bandits in Kogi

Troops have freed 11 kidnapped victims in Kebbi State and killed two suspected bandits in Kogi State in two separate operations carried out on Saturday.

Donjoe Media gathered that soldiers of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma, carried out clearance operations around Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, while troops of Operation Whirl Stroke laid an ambush along the Adankolo-Apata road in Kogi.

In Kebbi, the operation started after troops received a distress call that armed bandits had blocked the road leading to Ribah town and were attempting to invade the community. Soldiers mobilized quickly, intercepted the bandits and engaged them in a gun battle.

The bandits fled into the bush on sighting the troops. Soldiers chased them and forced them to abandon seven victims. The rescued persons were identified as Sa’adu Bala, Dantani Yahyi, Nura Musa, Nasiru Muhammad, Abdulakeem Abubakar, Abdulahi Maikudi and Zaki Gom. Troops also recovered motorcycles abandoned by the attackers and handed the victims over to their families.

In a second encounter around Wasagu village, troops on patrol came under attack from armed men. The soldiers returned fire and the attackers fled, abandoning four more victims who had been kidnapped on their farms. They were identified as Lawali Ali, Samaila Shuaibu, Kasimu Shuaibu and Aliyu Bala, all residents of Wasagu. They were handed over to the community head.

The spokesman of 8 Division, Sokoto, Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, confirmed the rescue. He praised the troops for their bravery and said the military will continue to respond promptly to security threats in the area. Danko-Wasagu borders Zamfara and Niger states and has seen repeated attacks because bandits use the forests and porous borders to hide.

The rescue is important for farming communities in the area. Many farmers have abandoned farmlands for fear of kidnapping, a situation that has affected food production. Security sources said sustained military presence is helping residents return to their farms.

In Kogi, troops of Operation Whirl Stroke acted on intelligence that bandits were moving around Kabba-Bunu and Lokoja. Soldiers laid an ambush along Adankolo-Apata Road at about 9 a.m. on Saturday and made contact with the suspects.

The suspects fled into Adankolo Forest after a brief exchange. Later, local informants alerted troops that bodies were seen in the forest. Soldiers moved in and found two suspected bandits dead. One locally made pistol, one live cartridge and one empty case of 7.62mm special ammunition were recovered.

Ahmad Zubairu, who speaks for the operation, said the ambush was successful. The Force Commander of Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke and General Officer Commanding 5 Division, Major General Moses Gara, commended the troops for their professionalism and urged them to sustain pressure on criminal groups.

Kogi is strategic because it links northern and southern Nigeria, and its forests have been used by bandits as hideouts and supply routes. Security agencies say cutting those routes helps stop bandits from spreading southward.

The Defence Headquarters has continued to deploy joint operations like Fansan Yamma and Whirl Stroke to tackle banditry across the North West and North Central. The operations combine intelligence gathering with ground patrols.

Troops are still combing forests in both states to track fleeing bandits and rescue more victims. Residents have been urged to share credible information with security agencies.

More official updates on military operations are published on the https://defencehq.mil.ng/.

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By Jonadab Oluikpe

Published by Donjoe News Media