Kidnappers of school children killed in gun battle with troops

Two notorious kidnappers identified as Bodero and Bodejo that reportedly orchestrated many high profile kidnappings have been gun down in an ambush by Nigerian Army troops in Kaduna State.

The Director Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu said in a statement on Thursday that had carried out attacks and kidnapped in Yauri school girls, Greenfield University and Nigerian Defence Academy in the past.

The Army spokesman said troops neutralised an unspecified number of insurgents Igabi, Giwa and Birnin Gwari Local Government Areas of the State.

He said troops also recovered firearms and ammunition in encounters with insurgents in ongoing clearance operations of criminal hideouts by the military.

Nwachukwu said the hoodlums were killed when troops responded to recent insurgents’ attacks against Civilians in Igabi and Giwa Local governments projected in ongoing operations to flush out the insurgents from these areas

While on a fighting patrol on Maganda-Dausayi – Mugaba axis, according to him, troops came under fire from insurgents who employed rustled herds of cattle as shields while they engaged the troops with direct fire.

The move was in response to recent insurgents’ attacks against civilians in Igabi and Giwa Local Governments projected ongoing operations to flush out the insurgents from these areas and bring succour to the people.

The insurgents fired several shots at the troops from the cover of the herds of livestock prompting immediate response from troops.

“In the ensuing firefight that lasted for about an hour, troops neutralised 2 of the insurgents and recovered 1 AK 47 rifle,1 AK 47 Magazine, and 3 rounds of 7.62mm Special”, the Army spokesman said.

Other items recovered one Techno phone, 3 Hilux and motorcycle keys, wraps of substance suspected to be marijuana, tramadol tablets and the sum of N13,200.

Speaking further, the Army said, “Unfortunately, in the encounter, some of the rustled livestock used as shield by the insurgents were caught in the crossfire.

He said, “Troops are still on the trail of the fleeing insurgents and remain resolute on ridding the area of responsibility of armed violence.

“In a separate operation, conducted by troops of 1 Division of the Nigerian Army on Wednesday 22 February 2024, the gallant troops successfully ambushed marauding insurgents on the Bada – Riyawa axis on the Kaduna – Birnin Gwari Road.

“In the encounter, troops neutralized 6 insurgents and recovered 2 AK 47 rifles, 5 AK 47 rifle magazines, 300 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition and 19 motorcycles which were destroyed insitu”, he said.

The statement enjoined members of the public to continue to cooperate with the Nigerian Army and other security agencies in the ongoing war against terrorism and insurgency in the Country.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.