Categories: News

Troops Kill Suspected Kidnappers, Rescue 31 Victims In Kaduna

(FILES) -- A file photo taken on June 5, 2013 shows Nigerian soldiers patrolling in the north of Borno state close to a Islamist extremist group Boko Haram former camp near Maiduguri. Nigeria's military on June 8, 2015 said it had begun shifting the command centre for its battle against Boko Haram from the capital to Maiduguri in the northeast, following a directive from President Muhammadu Buhari. Buhari announced the move in his inaugural speech on May 29, saying the Islamist insurgents would not be defeated until military command and control was transferred to the city at the heart of the uprising. "A reconnaissance and advance team for the establishment of Military Command and Control Centre (MCCC) for OPERATION ZAMAN LAFIYA for the fight against terrorism and insurgency has moved to Maiduguri," an army statement said. AFP PHOTO / Quentin LeboucherQuentin Leboucher/AFP/Getty Images

Troops of Operation 777 have killed 14 suspected kidnappers at Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna state.

The troops also rescued 31 people from the gunmen along the Kaduna-Abuja highway.

The Acting Director Defence Information, Brigadier General John Agim, made this known at a press briefing in the state on Monday to highlight the activities of Operation 777 established by the Defence Headquarters in October 2018.

General Agim said that under the Operation, the spate of herdsmen/farmers crisis, kidnapping and armed banditry in the state and other parts of the North West Zone have been largely degraded.

He added that several suspects were arrested and arms and ammunition recovered from the kidnappers during the operations.

According to him, Operation 777 is running concurrently with other military operations like Operation Sharan Daji in Zamfara state, is and geared towards enhancing a conducive and stable environment for socio-economic activities and the safety of Nigerians.

He disclosed that the military has deployed enough troops along the Abuja-Kaduna highway in order to ensure the safety of travellers ahead of the Christmas celebration and during the 2019 election.