In a daring midnight assault, Nigerian Army troops, backed by a joint security task force, stormed Garungabas and Kundu villages in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, rescuing 25 kidnapped victims and recovering 22 rustled cows and nine sheep after a brutal exchange of gunfire with armed bandits.
The operation, executed on February 21, 2025, followed precise intelligence reports that pinpointed the bandits’ hideout.
Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency expert, reports that battle was fierce, with the joint task force—comprising the military, police, and local vigilantes—engaging the criminals in a firefight that echoed across the countryside.
“The security team engaged the bandits in an intense gun battle, leading to the successful rescue of abducted villagers, including men and women, who had been snatched from their homes,” an intelligence source revealed.
As the smoke cleared, livestock stolen by the criminals were recovered, though some animals scattered into the bush amid the chaos.
In a separate horrific attack, bandits ambushed a commuter Sharon bus traveling from Sokoto to Minna, unleashing a barrage of bullets on unsuspecting passengers.
The sudden assault claimed the lives of a male and female passenger instantly, while several others suffered gunshot wounds.
“The injured victims and the deceased were rushed to IBB Specialist Hospital in Minna for urgent medical attention and autopsy,” a police intelligence officer confirmed.
