The Nigeria Police Force reported that during recent operations in the states of Kebbi and Abia, it had seized a cache of weapons and ammunition, murdered five suspected kidnappers, and rescued five abducted victims.
Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force Public Relations Officer, revealed in a statement on Tuesday that the breakthroughs were made possible by coordinated security operations that included local vigilantes, police officers, and other security agencies.
After authorities located the kidnappers in Shanga Hills, Kebbi State, three victims who had been kidnapped on July 27 in Sangara Village, Shanga Local Government Area, were freed.
“After a gunfight forced the kidnappers to flee with gunshot injuries, the victims—Muhammad Nasamu Namata, 25, Gide Namata, 20, and Hamidu Alhaji Namani, 35—were released unharmed,” he claimed.
He stated that during a regular patrol on August 15, two further victims, Tukur Bello, 26, and Isyaka Abubakar, 25, were also rescued in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area.
“The two have been reunited with their families after being abducted on August 9 while grazing cattle in Gairi Forest, Zamfara State,” he said.
Adejobi went on to say that in Abia State, agents acting on reliable information attacked a kidnapper’s hideout in Umuiku Obete Village, which is located in Ukwa West Local Government Ara.
“The suspects, who had been intimidating commuters and locals in the vicinity of Uratta Road and Umuozo Village, engaged our agents in a gunfight but were defeated. During the raid, five gang members were eliminated,” he stated.
An axe, a pair of boots, a charm, a double-barrelled long gun, three hundred and thirty-five rounds of live ammunition, fourteen magazines, five handsets, three cutlasses, five operational jackets, and six AK-47 weapons were found in the hideout, he said.
According to Adejobi, Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector-General of Police, also praised the officers’ valor and reassured Nigerians that the Force was still dedicated to preserving property and lives.
The IG was cited as stating, “I implore you to maintain the pace and step up the ongoing assault against criminal actors throughout the country.”
