By Mohammed Tijjani

TheKadunaState government said troops from the Nigerian Army’s 4th Demonstration Battalion repelled an attempted bandit attack in places along the Kaduna-Zaria highway. According to a statement released on Monday in Kaduna by the State Commissioner for Internal Security and Internal Affairs, Mr.Samuel Aruwan, several bandits were neutralized by the troops.

Aruwan said: “Troops from the Nigerian Army’s 4th Demonstration Battalion have reported to the Kaduna State government that armed bandits have been repulsed at some locations along the Kaduna-Zaria highway in the Igabi local government area of the state.

“The bandits were reportedly seen heading for the highway from Sharu village in the Kerawa region. “The troops, acting on the basis of credible intelligence on the movement of the bandits, ambushed and intercepted them in the villages of Lambar Zango and Hawan Kwaranza. In these places, the bandits were engaged in a violent firefight and suffered several casualties,” he said.

He explained that the bandits, having been decisively stopped by the troops, hastily withdrew by another road and in the process, attacked the village of Dunki, where they killed two inhabitants.

“An unidentified traveler was also killed. The retreating bandits also attacked the villages of Mashashiya and Farguza, from where they stole livestock and other valuables,” he said.

The commissioner said GovernorNasir El-Rufai offered his condolences to the families of those killed by the retreating bandits and prayed for the rest of their souls.

“The governor thanked the troops for their swift response in foiling the attempts attacks by bandits on various easy targets in the area,” Aruwan said.

(NAN)