The Nigerian military has cleared kidnappers and cattle rustlers’ den in parts of Bauchi State. The Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, in a statement yesterday, said following the 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, Bauchi State at the weekend. 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 gunfire, 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 the patrol team also recovered many items including arms and ammunition before destroying the camp. The army spokesman listed the items recovered items to include two AK-47 rifles, two locally made Small Machine Guns (SMGs), a double-barrel Dane gun, 68 rounds of 7.62mm (special) ammunition and 4 AK-47 rifle magazine. “Others included two boxer motorcycles and two mobile telephone handsets,” he said.
