Bandits’ attack: How we rescued 39 abducted Islamic students – DHQ

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has given a blow-by-blow account on how security forces rescued Islamic students kidnapped in a village in Katsina State on Saturday night.

A statement made available to newsmen on Sunday and signed by Maj. Gen. John Enenche, Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, said soldiers received a distress call on the kidnap incident and immediately mobilised to the scene.

The statement read: “Troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI in conjunction with Police and local vigilante deployed at Dandume LGA of Katsina State received a distress call at about 11:30 PM on 19 December 2020 from locals at Mahuta village that suspected bandits were moving with unconfirmed numbers of Islamiya children mostly girls and rustled cattle.

“The children were returning from Maulud programme at Unguwar Al- Kasim village at Dandume. In reaction to the distress call, troops quickly mobilized to the scene, laid ambush and blocked bandits’ route along Daudawa-Kadisau and road Sheme Mairuwa and Unguwar Audu village.

“While patiently waiting for the bandits at the ambush and blocking position, troops established contact with bandits and engaged them. During the fierce battle, troops superior fire power forced bandits to abandon the children and the rustled cattle thereby forcing the bandits to flee in disarray into the forest.

“Troops thereafter, searched the general area and rescued the 39 kidnapped girls in addition to the recovery of 8 rustled cattle. The victims have been reunited with their families while the recovered cattle handed to the owners.

“Troops have dominated the general area with aggressive patrol to forestall further occurrence.

” The Military High Command commends the gallant troops and other security agencies for their sustained successes. Equally the locals and vigilantes are hereby appreciated for the cooperation in tackling the insecurity in Katsina State.”