Nigerian Army troops have rescued 23 kidnapped victims and arrested four suspected members of the Lakurawa terrorist group during separate operations in Sokoto State. Lt.-Col. Aliyu Danja, spokesperson for Sector 2, Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
He said the operations also foiled attacks targeting civilians in different parts of the state. Danja said troops responded to a distress alert on September 20 following an invasion of Sabon Gari in Wurno Local Government Area, where terrorists reportedly fired sporadically and forced residents to flee their homes.
The troops engaged the attackers in a gun battle, forcing them to withdraw, and rescued six kidnapped victims, while a civilian who sustained a gunshot wound was evacuated for medical treatment. In another operation along the Sabon Birni-Takatsaba Road around Chabe Biyu in Sabon Birni Local Government Area, troops acting on intelligence reportedly ambushed and engaged terrorists attempting to cross the route, forcing them to flee.
Troops also responded to terrorist activity along the Isa-Kwanar Isa-Shinkafi Road in Isa Local Government Area, where they engaged the attackers and subsequently rescued 17 kidnapped civilians, including one victim who was evacuated to General Hospital, Isa, after sustaining a fracture.
Danja said troops later arrested four suspected Lakurawa members after intelligence revealed that suspected members of the group were moving rustled cattle from Sarma village towards Illela. The troops established a checkpoint along the suspected route and recovered six cows, while the suspects and livestock were taken into military custody for further investigation.
He said efforts were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the group, adding that the Army would sustain operations aimed at disrupting terrorist activities, rescuing kidnapped civilians and protecting communities across its area of responsibility.
