Troops of the One-Division of the Nigerian Army, Kaduna, on Thursday, rescued 30 kidnapped victims along the dreaded Kaduna-Birnin-Gwari road in Kaduna State.
The Acting Public Relations of the Division, Lt. Col. Musa Yahaya, who disclosed this in a statement, said the troops encountered the bandits while escorting the Chief of Defence Training and Operations, Maj Gen SE Udonwa, who was on operational visits to ‘Operation Whirl Punch’ Headquarters in Birnin Gwari.
According to Yahaya, the troops engaged the bandits and overpowered them, forcing the criminal elements to withdraw in disarray.He said the hard-fighting troops recovered two motorcycles from the hoodlums and immediately cleared the route for free flow of vehicular traffic.
The Army spokesman said, “A fighting patrol from 1 Div today Thursday 2 February 2023 had a meeting engagement with armed bandits kidnapping commuters at Manini village along Kaduna – Birnin Gwari road.
“The troops who were escorting the Chief of Defence Training and Operations Maj Gen SE Udonwa who was on operational visits to Operation Whirl Punch Headquarters in Birnin Gwari engaged the bandits and overpowered them forcing the criminal element to withdraw in disarray.
“The gallant troops rescued 30 kidnapped victims, recovered 2 motorcycles and immediately cleared the highway for free flow of vehicular traffic.
The rescued victims were escorted to Udawa and Birnin Gwari to continue their journey.
“The Chief of Defence Training and Operations, Maj Gen SE Udonwa, has commended the troops for their professionalism and resilience.”
