By ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi –
No fewer than two suspected kidnappers have been killed in a gun battle with a team of Policemen and a vigilante group in Toro local government area of Bauchi State.
A vigilante member was also killed during the encounter while an unknown number of the suspected kidnappers escaped with gunshot wounds.
The Public Relations Officer, Bauchi State Police Command, Ahmed Wakil, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday to newsmen in Abuja.
Wakil, a Superintendent of Police, said “that intelligence reports available to the Police at the Tulu Division, indicated that suspected kidnappers blocked Tulu-Rishi Road on 26th August, 2022 and kidnapped one Alh Alhassan Gambo of Anguwan Bawa in Kaduna State and shot one Alh Mujitafa Usman of Funtua LGA Katsina State who was on a business trip to the area.
He further said that on receiving the information, the Divisional Police Officer mobilized his men and the vigilante to go after the suspects.
According to him, the team intercepted the suspected kidnappers at Doka Auwalu Mountain in Toro LGA, and engaged them in a gun battle which to the killing of two of them (kidnappers) adding that it was in the process that one of the vigilante members was also killed.
“In furtherance of our commitment to crackdown on criminal elements, on 27th August, 2022 at about 9.00pm, credible intelligence available at the disposal of Tulu Divisional Police headquarters on the activities of suspected kidnappers, that on the 26th August 2022 suspected kidnappers blocked Tulu-Rishi Road.
“They kidnapped one Alh Alhassan Gambo of anguwan Bawa, Kaduna State and shot one Alh Mujitafa Usman of Funtua LGA Katsina State who was on a business trip to Tulu.
“Later, on 28 August, 2022, a combined team of policemen led by Divisional Police Officer Tulu Division and vigilante embarked on combing their enclave on intelligence report.
“On 29th August, 2022, suspected kidnappers were intercepted at Doka Auwalu Mountain of Tama ward Toro LGA, swiftly engaged in a gun duel, following hot exchange of superior firepower from the operatives, two of the suspects were neutralized at the spot, whereas others were subdued and scampered in disarray with gunshot wounds into the nearby forest.
“Unfortunately, one vigilante member paid a supreme price in the process.
“Consequently, the operatives successfully rescued the following victims: Alh Alhassan Gambo, male (60) of anguwan Bawa Kaduna State; Badamasi Saadu and Abdullahi Sani.
“The aforementioned victims were rescued by the operatives unhurt and subsequently reunited with families after medical examination,” he said.
The Police Spokesman said that after follow-up and intensed surveillance in the area, two suspects were apprehended during the operation who were found wandering aimlessly in the area adding that investigation is ongoing to establish their connection or otherwise with the suspected kidnappers.
He said: “While commending the operatives, the commissioner of Police, CP Umar Mamman Sanda, equally commiserated with the family of the vigilante member who sacrificed his life while protecting life and property of the citizens.”
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