Men of the Joint Security Task Force have killed 20 bandits and rescued five kidnap victims during a clearance operation in Gaskiya Bana, a border village between Niger and Kaduna states in Munya Local Government of Niger State.
The kidnap victims were said to have been in the custody of the bandits for over one month.
The bandits were said to be working for a notorious bandits kingpin Alhaji Leyi who has his operational base at Gaskiya Bana in Munya Local Government Area.
The operation lasted for about five hours.
Niger Commissioner for Internal Security and Humanitarian Affairs, Mr. Emmanuel Umar confirmed the incident.
He said the task force invaded the terrorist hideout who abandoned their victims and loot.
According to Umar, the Task Force ran into an ambush by the terrorists at Unguwan Aboki but were able to repel them as scores were neutralised and others were forced to retreat.
The Commissioner identified the rescued victims as Yakubu Abuba, Susan Sunday, Patience Sunday, Lazarus John and Bulus Yahaya adding that they were all abducted from Chukun village in Kaduna State about a month ago.
“All the victims have been debriefed and since reunited with their families after medical examination,” he said.
He commended the efforts of the security agencies and other stakeholders in mitigating the spate of terrorist activities in the State.
