By Aiyeku Timothy
An attempt by suspected bandits to abduct 39 Islamiya girls on Sunday was foiled by troops of Operation Hadarin Daji, in collaboration with the police and vigilance group deployed in Dandume Local Government Area of Katsina State.
This was made known by Coordinator of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. John Enenche, in a statement on Sunday evening.
Enenche said the victims have been reunited with their families while eight rustle cattle recovered and handed to the owners.
The statement read: “Troops received a distress call about 11:30 pm on December 19 from locals at Mahuta village, that suspected bandits were moving with some Islamiya pupils, mostly girls, and rustled cattle.
“The children were returning from a Maulud programme at Unguwar Al-Kasim village.
“While patiently waiting for the bandits at their ambush and blocking position, troops established contact with bandits and engaged them.
“During the fierce battle, troops superior firepower forced bandits to abandon the children and the rustled cattle, thereby forcing the bandits to flee in disarray into the forest.
“Troops thereafter searched the general area and rescued the 39 kidnapped girls in addition to the recovery of 8 rustled cattle.”
It would be recalled that suspected bandits kidnapped many students of Islamiyya School in Mahuta town, Dandume Local Government Area of Katsina State on Saturday as they were returning from a Maulud procession at Unguwar Al-Kasim.
The attack on students of Islamiyya School in Mahuta town is only days after gunmen attacked Government Science School, Kankara in the state and kidnapped about 344 students.
