Nigeria’s military in northwestern Katsina State has rescued not less than 76 kidnap victims, including women and children.
According to France 24 local security authorities over the weekend said that one child captive died in the operation.
The rescue reportedly followed a precision air strike targeting a “notorious bandit kingpin” and his gang in Katsina.
The State’s Internal Security Commissioner, Nasir Mu’azu said in a statement said the air force personnel raided a site at Pauwa Hill, in the Kankara local government area.
According to the statement, the operation was staged following an air force strike in the hunt for a “notorious bandit kingpin” and his gang suspected to be behind an attack Tuesday on a mosque and on nearby villages that claimed 50 lives.
Mu’azu said that the operation “successfully” rescued 76 kidnapped people, including women and children.
“However, it was regrettably noted that one child tragically lost his life during the ordeal,” he said.
There was no information on the number of casualties among “bandits”, as members of criminal gangs are locally known.
In some past cases, families of victims have reportedly disputed official claims of rescue, claiming to have paid ransoms for the release of captives.
Mass kidnappings for ransom are common in Nigeria’s northwest and central states, where heavily armed gangs often target remote villages to loot and abduct residents.
