A joint team of police tactical operatives and local vigilantes has rescued 11 kidnapped victims following a gun battle with armed bandits in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State.

Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the operation was launched after intelligence received at about 9:00 p.m. on July 11 indicated that a group of armed bandits was moving through the area with abducted victims and rustled cattle.

The sources said the security team intercepted the bandits near Mangoro Village in Mariga LGA, where they engaged the criminals in a fierce exchange of gunfire.

The bandits were forced to flee into the surrounding bush, abandoning the captives, who were rescued unhurt.

The rescued victims were identified as Alhaji Sale, Muhammadu, Abubakar Ibrahim, Naziru Hamza, Ali Ibrahim, Abubakar Mohd, Ibrahim Abubakar, Dan Asabe Garba, Yunusa Musa, Musa Peter, and Bilyaminu Ibrahim, all residents of Beri, Dogon-Fadama and Kagara communities.

The victims have since been reunited with their families.

Security sources said monitoring and combing operations are ongoing in the area to track down the fleeing bandits and recover the rustled cattle. (Zagazola)