Operatives of the Kaduna State Police Command have neutralized one bandit in Fatika District of Giwa Local Council in the state.
The command also arrested three kidnappers in Lere Local Council and rescued six victims, while recovering dangerous weapons from the suspects.
Spokesperson of the command, ASP Muhammad Jalige, who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, October 7, said operatives alongside Operation Puff adder II on 2nd October 2021, acting on credible intelligence stormed Yadi forest in Fatika District of Giwa LGA and engaged bandits in a fierce gun battle where one was neutralized as others fled with varying degrees of bullet injuries into the forest.
“The operatives recovered one AK49 rifle loaded with thirty-one rounds of 7.62 X 39mm live ammunition, one locally made rifle with one 12-gauge polymer cased shotgun shell,” he stated.
The PPRO noted that the precision and gallantry exhibited by the Officers that left the bandits in disarray is exemplary thus, the Command is calling on members of the public especially medical practitioners to report any person who is found with a suspected bullet injury in the said axis for prompt action.
Jalige said operatives rescued six persons kidnapped along Barde/Keffi road after a gun duel with bandits on October 4.
“On 5th October 2021 Operatives of the command while in pursuance of a reported kidnapping incident that occurred on 4th October 2021 at about 1830hrs along Barde/Keffi road, cautiously and tactically trailed and caught up with the bandits in the forest,” the statement read.
They engaged them in a gun duel which resulted in the bandits abandoning their victims and scampered into the forest with bullet wounds.
“Six kidnapped victims were successfully rescued unhurt, namely; (1) Bala Sharif ‘M’ of Jos North LGA, Plateau state; (2) Kirman Joseph ‘M’ of Pankshin, Plateau state; (3) Chai Markus ‘M’ of Ganawuri (4) Sani Abubakar ‘M’ of Mangu, Plateau state; (5) Musa Daniel ‘M’ of Mangu, Plateau state and; (6) ASC Alfred Dakon ‘M’ a staff of Nigerian Correctional Services of Nassarawa state Command,” he added.
Jalige said the victims were debriefed and subsequently reunited with their respective families while concerted efforts are on high gear intending to apprehend the fleeing bandits.
Similarly, operatives of the Command attached to Saminaka Divisional Headquarters in Lere LGA on the 2nd October, acted on a piece of plausible information and carefully raided Kuwait Hotel located in Unguwan Bawa and arrested three suspected bandits.
The following persons were arrested; Hadi Ahmad ‘M’ 27yrs of Yanmata village Doguwa LGA, Kano state, Yususf Alhassan ‘M’ 25yrs of U/Rumu village, Doguwa LGA, Kano state, and Yahaya Yusuf ‘M’ 29yrs of Lere road Unguwan Bawa Saminaka.
During a search of their rooms, the following items were recovered, one submachine gun (SMG) loaded with one round of 9mm live ammunition and a Department State Services, Identity Card.
The suspects are currently undergoing investigation and will be charged to court on completion of the same.