Operatives of the Nigerian Army, 33 Artillery Brigade Headquarters, Bauchi, have killed two suspected kidnappers during an exchange of fire in Rafin Gigi village in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
The operatives also rescued a 16-year-old boy who was kidnapped last Friday.
Speaking while presenting the rescued boy to newsmen at the Brigade headquarters in Bauchi on Wednesday, the Platoon Commander, Captain Harrison Chiagozie, said the incident occurred last Saturday.
Chiagozie, who led the operation, informed journalists that N770,000 cash was recovered from the kidnappers.
He said the kidnappers had demanded a ransom of N1.6m from the family, but the family only raised N770,000.
“We got a report of the kidnap of the boy, Muhammad Musa, on Saturday and immediately, we swung into action,” Chiagozie said.
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He added, “When we got to the bush, it was around 10pm and as soon as the family exchanged the N770,000 they had with them and took their son, our men who were hiding came out.
“An exchange of fire ensued between us and the kidnappers and we killed two of them while the others escaped. There was no casualty on our side.
“They used torchlight to know where we were because it was very dark. And our aim was to rescue the boy alive.”
The Platoon Commander said the operation was successful because of the team work of the Nigerian Army and a vigilance group in the area.
An uncle of the rescued boy, Ali Umar, told newsmen that the kidnappers left a letter after picking the boy, telling them to call the phone number in it.
“I have been the one speaking with the kidnappers. They demanded the sum of N1.6m from the family before the boy would be released to us; but we were only able to raise the sum of N770,000 and even that was borrowed.”
