Army kills two bandits on Kaduna-Abuja highway

Troops of 1 Division, Nigerian Army raided bandits’ hideout at Gonan Bature East of Rijana and Kasarami Farm House in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Army Spokesman, Colonel Sagir Musa, disclosed that at 4:30am on Wednesday, May 8, 2019, the troops invaded the bandits’ hideout following intelligence report.

“During the operation, the officers engaged the hoodlums in fierce battle that led to the killing of two bandits and recovery of two AK 47 Rifles, two AK 47 Magazines, 51 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and two techno cell phones,” he said.

He pointed out that the criminals forcefully occupied the abandoned Kasarami Farm House and had used its as shelter and a haven for keeping victims of kidnapping.

Musa in a statement, however, said the Army remains committed and determined to protect lives and property of all Nigerians, and used the medium to thank the good Nigerians for providing information that resulted in the successful operation.

“The Nigerian Army will continue to sensitize and also request members of the public to support it and other security agencies in their efforts to checkmate terrorism, banditry and other assorted crimes in Nigeria.

“They should not relent in providing credible information about the hideouts and movement of suspicious persons in their communities,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu, has rolled out new counter-kidnapping operational strategies.

This follows resolve of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to end the current spate of internal security challenges being experienced in parts of the country.

The new strategies, which are purposeful and intelligence-driven are targeted at identifying, locating and dismantling kidnapping gangs nationwide and bringing kidnappers and their collaborators to justice.

It is designed to complement and strengthen the ‘Operation Puff Adder’ in several states of the federation.

The operation will involve deployment of undercover operatives, decoy operations and high-level tactical missions with active participation of operatives from the conventional Police Units, Force Intelligence Unit, Special Anti-Robbery Squads (SARS), Special Anti-kidnapping Squads and Police Tactical Units comprising Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) and Special Forces.

Also, Police operatives from ‘Operation Puff Adder’ have rescued 27 kidnap victims including five Chinese nationals unhurt.

The Chinese citizens, who were kidnapped on April 15, 2019 in Bobi, Niger State, were rescued on May 5, 2019 at a forest in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State, following air and ground surveillance.