Crime

Three bandits killed, arms recovered as security operatives rescue 3 kidnap victims in Katsina and Kaduna

Published

8 months ago

November 13, 2023

Three bandits were killed and arms were recovered as security operatives weapons rescued three persons abducted by gunmen in Katsina and Kaduna states.

The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) in Katsina in a statement on Monday said its operatives rescued three kidnapped victims.

They had been kidnapped in Gogalo, a village situated in the Jibia Local Government Area of the state, by men armed with AK-47 rifles on Saturday.

ASP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, , the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Jibia responded promptly to the distress call by mobilising a search and rescue team who tirelessly combed the surrounding bushes until the early hours of Sunday.

The police team located the suspected kidnappers at approximately 0600hrs, triggering a fierce gun battle. Despite the intensity of the firefight, the police successfully rescued all three kidnapped victims unharmed. Investigation into the incident is ongoing, with authorities committed to bringing the fleeing suspects to justice, ASP Sadiq said.

Commending the exemplary bravery of the involved operatives, the Commissioner of Police for the Katsina State Command, CP Aliyu Abubakar Musa, urged citizens to stay vigilant and report timely information on criminal activities. He stressed the importance of swift and decisive action to curb criminal activities in the state.

CP Musa also urged residents in the area to promptly report individuals with suspicious injuries, noting that some of the bandits escaped with gunshot wounds.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Army says troops of the I Division have neutrlised three bandits and recovered weapons in Kaduna.

The Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations I Division Nigerian Army, Lt-Col Musa Yahaya confirmed the incident in a statement in Kaduna.

”Acting on credible intelligence, troops of the I Division Nigerian Army and operation Whirl Punch carried out a clearance operation around the general area of Maro – Chibiya forest in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Nov 12.

”During the operation, troops engaged the armed bandits with superior fire power, neutralising one of the bandits and forcing others to flee with gun shot wounds into the surrounding forest,” the army said.

The army also said that troops captured one AK 47 rifle, one locally fabricated AK 47 rifle, quantity four of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition and one mobile phone.

Yahaya also said that , on Nov. 10, troops of the duvision and operation Whirl Punch while on clearance operation at Kawara and Filin Jalo villages in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State made contact with bandits at Kawara forest.

“In the fire fight that ensued, troops neutralised one bandit and recovered one AK 47 rifle loaded with quantity 30 of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, one motorcycle and one techno phone while others escaped with gunshot wounds.