Nigerian Army troops, alongside a joint security task force, rescued 25 kidnapped victims and reclaimed 22 rustled cows and nine sheep after a fierce gun battle with armed bandits in Niger State. The clash unfolded on February 21, 2025, in Garungabas and Kundu villages, located in Rafi Local Government Area (LGA), as part of ongoing efforts to curb banditry and insurgency in the region.
Intelligence sources revealed to Zagazola Makama that the operation, involving police, military personnel, and local vigilantes, was launched following credible tips about bandit movements in the area. “The security team engaged the bandits in a fierce gun battle, leading to the rescue of 25 victims, including men and women, who had been abducted from nearby villages,” a source confirmed. The operation also saw the recovery of livestock stolen by the criminals, though some animals scattered into the bush during the confrontation.
In a separate but equally harrowing incident, bandits attacked a commuter Sharon bus traveling from Sokoto to Minna. The assailants opened fire as the vehicle neared their hideout, killing a male and female passenger instantly and injuring several others. A police intelligence officer reported, “The injured victims and the corpses of the deceased were immediately evacuated to the IBB Specialist Hospital in Minna for urgent medical attention and autopsy.”
The successful rescue mission underscores the joint task force’s commitment to restoring security in Niger State, though the bus attack highlights the persistent threat posed by banditry in the region. Authorities continue to investigate both incidents as efforts intensify to dismantle criminal networks plaguing local communities.