Troops Clear Kidnappers, Cattle Rustlers Den in Bauchi State

The Nigerian military has cleared kidnappers’ and cattle rustlers’ dens in parts of Bauchi State, North-East Nigeria.

The Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, in a statement on Sunday, said that following information received from well-meaning members of the public, troops of Forward Operation Base (FOB), Ningi of 33 Artillery Brigade conducted a fighting patrol at Dutsen Dumburum, Ningi Local Government Area (LGA), Bauchi State, on Saturday.

Earlier, Usman said,  intelligence reports confirmed the presence of kidnappers and cattle rustlers in the locality, which made the troops to swing into action  by organising a fighting patrol to the area.

He stated that during the patrol, the team encountered the armed bandits and after fierce exchange of gun fire, they were overpowered.

According to him, the troops killed three of the armed bandits and rescued three kidnapped females held hostages by the bandits pending payment of ransom.

He said that the patrol team also recovered many items including arms and ammunitions before destroying the camp.

The Army spokesman listed the recovered items to include two AK-47 rifles, two locally made small machine guns (SMGs), a double-barrelled Dane gun, 68 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition and 4 AK-47 rifle magazines.

“Others include two Boxer motorcycles and two mobile telephone handsets,” he said.