Police kill two wanted terrorists, lose officer during raid

Arrest three bandits, recover cache of ammunition
The police have killed two wanted commanders of the Ansaru Terror Group but lost one inspector, Mohammed Abubakar, attached to the Police Special Forces during Wednesday’s operation at Kuduru forest, Birnin-Gwari in Kaduna State.

According to the police, 13 other officers (two superintendents, one superintendent, four inspectors and six sergeants), including the pilot and co-pilot of the police helicopter, sustained various degrees of injury and are receiving treatment.

While giving an update on the operation in a statement, Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), DCP Frank Mba, said one Haruna Basullube (m) – one of the most wanted kidnappers/cattle rustlers in the country – and one Bashir Leta (m) – another notorious bandits’ commander ­– were killed; while one Mallam Abba (m) – commander of Boko Haram camp in Kuduru Forest and one Mofa (m) – a notorious kidnapper – was critically injured.

Mba added that as mop-up operations continue, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, deployed crack detectives and special forensic investigators from the Force Headquarters to expedite investigation into the broad criminal enterprise of the group and their associates.

He said the late Insp. Abubakar was one of the finest officers of the Police Special Forces with vast training and operational background, at home and abroad.

The FPRO noted that exhibits recovered by the police during the operation include 11 AK-47 rifles, 730 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition, 152 rounds of general-purpose machine gun (GPMG) ammunition in two chains, 13 pairs of military camouflage, two cartons and 48 sachets of tramadol, four facemasks, phones and other electronic gadgets, currently subject of forensic investigations.

The statement read in part: “Despite the success of the operation, one Inspector Mohammed Abubakar attached to the Police Special Forces regrettably died as a result of injuries sustained in the heat of the combat.”

While condoling with the family, friends, and professional colleagues of the late officer, the IGP restated the commitment of the force to the safety of its personnel and the nation.

Meanwhile, citizens living in and around the Birnin-Gwari axis of Kaduna have been enjoined to be on the lookout for fleeing bandits, especially those with bullet wounds, and report every suspicious behaviour to the police.