Soldiers to the rescue as gunmen block highway, abduct several passengers
Some men suspected to be bandits have blocked the Kaduna-Zaria road around Foundation general area within Birnin Yero Ward on Thursday while several passengers were kidnapped alongside.
The Brigadier-General, Director of Army Public Relations, Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement on Thursday, said “They opened fire on commuters, during which they abducted and fled with unconfirmed number of commuters,” he said.
He said troops pursued the criminals, compelling them to abandon five earlier abducted commuters.
He said the commuters were subsequently rescued by troops, while the highway was immediately cleared for free flow of vehicular traffic.
However, one of the commuters sustained a gunshot injury and was evacuated immediately for medical attention.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya commended the troops for their gallantry and urged them not to relent until terrorism, and other criminalities are brought to an end in the region.
According to him, the General Officer Commanding 1 Division NA, Major General Taoreed Lagbaja, has also urged all law-abiding citizens to continue to support the troops and other security agencies with credible and actionable information that will assist in the fight against the criminal elements.
