The Kaduna government says two persons died while nine persons were rescued from abductors who kidnapped them along Kaduna-Abuja highway on Sunday afternoon.

The state’s commissioner for internal security and home affairs, Samuel Aruwan said this in a statement on Monday in Kaduna.

Mr. Aruwan said that the government received operational feedback that the victims were rescued by troops of Operation Thunder Strike.

He explained that the troops on routine patrol along Akilubu-Gidan Busa axis of the Kaduna-Abuja road, received a distress call around 4p.m., indicating that bandits had blocked the highway.

“The bandits opened fire on a bus, forcing the driver to halt,” Mr. Aruwan said. “On getting to the location, they realised that bandits had already kidnapped nine persons from an 18-seater bus with registration No. Kaduna: MKA-151.”

The commissioner said troops immediately mobilised and engaged the bandits in a firefight and in the process rescued the nine persons.

“Regrettably, the driver and a passenger seated close to him lost their lives,” he said. “The Kaduna state government wishes to send its condolences to their families and pray for God to grant them eternal rest.”

The Kaduna-Abuja expressway has been a terrifying experience for commuters as daredevil kidnappers and criminals often have a field day ambushing travellers.

Authorities have in recent years mounted surveillance on the route, albeit unsustained, making room for the bandits to retake the roads.

Mr. Aruwan said the government will continue to work hard in collaboration with the federal government to improve the security situation on the highway.

Aruwan said that the government was also working in collaboration with Zamfara, Katsina, Niger, Nasarawa, Plateau, Sokoto and Kano State government, as well as the military, the police, Department of State Service and relevant stakeholders towards enhancing security in the region.