Troops of Sector 1 Operation Hadarin Daji deployed at Forward Operating Base Mada in Zamfara State while on routine patrol along Shemori-Yandoto road at Marke general area encountered an unspecified number of armed bandits.
The troops engaged the bandits in a firefight for several hours, and due to the troops fire superiority, the bandits fled in disarray into the forest along the area.
The OPHD troops immediately went in hot pursuit of the bandits into the forest, which forced them to abandon two civilians who were rescued from the bandits unhurt and recovered two operational motorcycles from the fleeing bandits.
During an interview with the rescued persons, they were identified as Dr. Hassan Abubakar Augie, a former Provost of the Federal College of Education (Technical) in Gusau and his son.
A preliminary investigation revealed that the abductees were abducted by armed bandits late last night from his residence and were taken into the forest before the timely arrival of troops who rescued them.
Accordingly, the two victims have been reunited with their families amid jubilation while the troops maintained aggressive vigilance and patrol in the general area.
