Gunmen abduct Kanke Council chairman in Plateau

• Troops kill two bandits, ISWAP attacks B’Haram fighters fleeing from military airstrikes
• Police nab kidnappers’ informant in Niger

Executive Chairman of Kanke Local Council of Plateau State, Henry Gotip, has been reportedly abducted by yet to be identified gunmen.

A source, who pleaded anonymity, told The Guardian that the gunmen stormed the residence of the chairman in Kwang, Jos South Local Council, yesterday and started shooting before abducting Gotip, the Secretary of Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) Plateau chapter.

The Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Plateau, Alfred Alabo, promised to get back on the matter when he gets the details, adding that the command was trailing the abductors to rescue the victim unhurt.

Alabo assured the public of the command’s commitment to a crime-free society, appealing for calm among citizens and cooperation with the police to fish out bad eggs among them.

HOWEVER, troops have killed two armed bandits and repelled many others around Fondisho, along the Kaduna–Zaria road in Igabi Local Council.

The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, stated, yesterday, that an operational feedback to the Kaduna government revealed that the troops, responding to credible intelligence, laid ambush for the bandits.

“Two of the criminals were thus neutralised,” he added. “Since many of the bandits escaped with gunshot wounds, the government appeals to communities to report any questionable person seeking medical attention. The security operations room can be reached on 09034000060 and 08170189999.”

MEANWHILE, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists have attacked their Boko Haram counterparts fleeing military airstrikes in Cingori/Yuwe axis of Bama Local Council of Borno State.

The insurgents were ambushed, while attempting to seek refuge in one of their hideouts in Cina Village on the fringes of Sambisa Forest.

A counter-insurgency expert in the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, stated, yesterday, in Maiduguri that the fleeing terrorists and their families were among those that escaped the recent military airstrikes at Gazuwa, Sheruri and Mantari villages.

He said: “On sighting the Boko Haram terrorists led by two commanders, the ISWAP started shooting at them,” adding that when they saw women and children among them, they told their fighters to allow the terrorists to flee, including the wounded ones.

IN another development, Niger State Police Command has arrested an informant in connection with the kidnap of four victims and killing of two in Tegina, Rafi Local Council of Niger State.

A statement made available to journalists in Minna, yesterday, by the command’s spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, revealed that on November 14, 2021, armed bandits invaded Tegina and abducted one Aminu Garba and three others.

As a result of the sustained pressure on the hoodlums, The Guardian gathered, two victims reportedly escaped from the abductors, while the remaining two were killed after the captors collected N13 ransom.

The statement disclosed that on August 29, 2022, based on technical intelligence, 30-year-old Nasiru Musa was arrested within Tegina town in connection with the crime, noting that during interrogation, the suspect confessed to have conspired with one Lelwi, now at large, who connected him with one Gwaskan-Daji, also at large, and several others that kidnapped the victims.

The suspect claimed that he was given only N200,000 from the crime proceed, and confessed that he was also planning to arrange for the abduction of Rafi Local Council Chairman before his arrest by the Police.