Troops of Operation Forest Sanity have rescued nine kidnapped persons during a patrol to suspected bandits’ hideouts in Kaso, Chikun Local Government Area in Kaduna State.

The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, confirmed the development in a statement on Monday in Kaduna.

He said the troops engaged bandits on the Tantatu high ground as bandits abandoned their camp and fled further into the forest.

“The troops searched the camp and rescued nine kidnapped persons,” the commissioner said.

He noted that the initial debriefing of the rescued victims revealed that they were kidnapped around the Gurara Dam area.

Mr Aruwan said the troops recovered 90 cattle left behind by the fleeing bandits.

“The animals will be handed over to the Kaduna State Livestock Regulatory Authority for proper identification,“ he said.

He disclosed that clearance patrols to Bawa Rikasa hill led to the recovery of four motorcycles belonging to the bandits.

The commissioner said the nine rescued persons would undergo further debriefing and examination before reuniting with their families.

“Fighting patrols will continue in the general area,” the commissioner said.

(NAN)