Two bandits have been killed in Kaduna while trying to collect a ransom of N1.5 million at Mai-Iddo village in Kachia LGA of Kaduna State.
According to reports, the bandits were attempting to collect the ransom for 4 abducted victims, but soldiers foiled their plan and rescued the hostages.
The four hostages, consisting of three females and a child, had been kidnapped from a farm the previous week.
Security operatives reportedly arranged with the person dropping off the ransom and a vigilante to ambush the bandits.
When the bandits arrived to collect the ransom, the troops opened fire, killing two of them instantly.
The community leader of Mai-Iddo village, while confirming the incident, said the two bandits were killed after their leader directed them to the location where a relative of the victims was expected to drop the ransom.
Meanwhile, arrangements are underway between the troops, the man who will deliver the ransom and a vigilante.
The troops took cover at a particular location and as two of the bandits came out to pick the ransom, the troops opened fire on them and killed the two of them instantly.
According to him, the abducted victims were rescued by the troops and reunited with their families unharmed.
Soldiers arrested bandits, gunrunners in Plateau, Kaduna
In another development, troops of Operation Safe Haven in Plateau State have raided a forest occupied by bandits in Qaapan Local Government Area and arrested some of them.
The arrested persons included arms couriers.
It was learnt that during the operation, which lasted for one week, the troops also recovered several weapons from the forest and the neighbouring villages in Kaduna State.
The Spokesman for Operation Safe Haven, Samson Zhakom confirmed the development in a statement.
Zhakom said: “Troops of 3 Operation SAFE HAVEN (OPSH) have arrested notorious gun runners, bandits, arms couriers and recovered arms as well as ammunition in several intelligence-driven operations carried out in Plateau and Kaduna States within the last one week.
“Arms were recovered from the bandit and gunrunners,” he added.
