Troops Rescue 25 Kidnapped Victims, Recover Rustled Cattle in Niger State
By: Zagazola Makama
Nigerian Army troops in Niger State have rescued 25 kidnapped victims and recovered 22 rustled cows and nine sheep following an intense gun battle with armed bandits in Garungabas and Kundu villages, Rafi Local Government Area (LGA).
Intelligence sources,told Zagazola Makama, the operation was carried out by a joint security task force comprising the police, military, and local vigilantes as part of ongoing efforts to combat banditry and insurgency in the region.
The joint task force launched an offensive against bandits on February 21, 2025, based on actionable intelligence about their movements in the affected areas.
“The security team engaged the bandits in a fierce gun battle, leading to the rescue of 25 victims, including men and women, who had been abducted from nearby villages,” the source said.
The sources said that 22 cows and nine sheep, which had been rustled by the criminals, were successfully recovered, while several other livestock were scattered in the bush.
In a separate incident, bandits opened fire on a commuter Sharon bus traveling from Sokoto to Minna, injuring several passengers.
According sources, the bandits indiscriminately fired at the vehicle as it approached their hideout, killing a male and a female passenger instantly.
“The injured victims and the corpses of the deceased were immediately evacuated to the IBB Specialist Hospital in Minna for urgent medical attention and autopsy,” a police intelligence officer said.
