The police in Plateau State have trailed a gang of kidnappers to their den, rescued six victims, and killed one of the kidnappers. Spokesperson for the state’s police command, Alfred Alabo, said the feat was part of its efforts to get rid of criminal elements in the state.
He said: “On November 1, at about 4:00a.m., while acting on a credible intelligence over a horrible kidnap incident, that some unidentified suspected kidnappers invaded the Gwalada village in Toro Local Council of Bauchi State, and forcefully abducted some residents of the area to a rocky forest in between Tumu,Tsaya and Rumfar Gomna in Bassa Local Council. The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Jengre, led a combined team of battle operatives, STF, Security Help Groups to the kidnappers’ camp.
“On sighting the security operatives, the kidnappers engaged them in a fierce gun duel, but they were subdued by the superior fire power of the security operatives.
“However, six victims namely- Rashida Hamisu, Mummi Usman, Ibrahim Isa,Ya’u Yahaya, Bala Aminu and Alh. Ishaku Usman, all of Gwalfada, in Toro Local Council of Bauchi were rescued from the operation.
“Toro Local Council is about 25km away from Jos, the Plateau State Capital.” According to him, one of the kidnappers was gunned down and his cohorts fled with bullet wounds. But sadly, one Nuhu Titus, a hunter who aided the security operatives in the rescue operation lost his life.
Alabo said effort is being intensified to arrest the fleeing suspects and rescue other victims.
Meanwhile, the state’s Commissioner of Police, CP Okoro Alawari, has assured Plateau residents of the police’s commitment to combat crime and criminality in the state.
He vowed to do all within his power to ensure that all the 17 Local Councils continue to remain safe for all citizens of the state. The CP warned kidnappers to repent from their atrocious activities or leave Plateau State before the police apprehend them.
Also confirming the incident, Police spokesperson in Bauchi, Ahmed Wakil, said a combined team of officers in a joint operation with Joint Task Force (JTF), and local hunters drafted to Toro on November 1, acted on intelligence, and raided two identified suspected kidnappers’ enclaves in both Angwari and Saya mountains in the area.
“The joint operational team engaged the kidnappers in a gun dwell which forced them to run in disarray with bullet wounds. Moreso, one Rashida Hamisu,17, and five other victims were rescued unhurt. One of the hoodlums was neutralised in the process.
“The rescued victims were taken to Toro General Hospital for medical attention, after which they were reunited with their family members.”
At the moment, efforts are on top gear to hunt down the hoodlums, while investigation is ongoing,” he said.