A fighting patrol team of 33 Brigade Nigerian Army on Friday killed seven kidnappers in Bauchi State, Army Spokesman, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, said. He said the operation followed a tip-off had contact with suspected kidnappers at Lame Burra forest near Dutsen Ganye, Gunduru and Kati Layin villages of the state.

“During a heavy exchange of fire, the troops killed 7 of the kidnappers and destroyed their camps. They also recovered 2 AK-47 rifles and 3 Dane guns at the camp. The troops are still combing the general area to further track down other fleeing members of the criminal gang,” Col. Usman said.

Continuing, the Acting Director of Army Public Relations said in a statement issued on Saturday afternoon: “It is important to state that the Brigade after the initial successes of its Operation FOREST KUNAMA, which was aimed at clearing all livestock rustlers and armed bandits camps in Bauchi and Gombe States general area, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) directed them to maintain continued presence at the Lame-Burra forest. This is to prevent the criminal elements that fled from returning.

“Subsequently, 2 Forward Operation Bases (FOBs) were established at Lame and Jimi to cover the Lame and Burra axis of the forest respectively. Troops usually carry out periodic fighting patrols into the forest from the FOBs.

“In a related development, troops on Operation LAFIYA DOLE deployed at Forward Operation Base (FOB), Buratai in conjunction with local vigilante arrested a suspected Boko Haram terrorist named Adamu Damuna. He is currently being interrogated.”

•Nigerian Army Photo shows one of the kidnappers’ camps after being set on fire by troops.

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