Security operatives, yesterday, said that they had rescued five kidnapped victims and recovered firearms, ammunition, bandits’ operational vehicles and motorcycles during their intensified war against terrorism in Kaduna.

In a statement by the Police spokesman, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Muhammed Jalige, the command’s face-off against the terrorists was a result of complaints over the abduction of victims.

Jalige said: “On receipt of the complaints, the Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State Command, Yekini Ayoku, directed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Ikara, Ikara Local Council of Kaduna State, to spread his operational dragnet to ensure that one Yusuf Abdullahi Abubakar ‘M’ of Dorayi Village in Kano State who had been kidnapped and the abductors demanding N50 million ransom is rescued unhurt and culprits arrested.

“Consequently, on September 9, 2022, at about 2015 hours, police operatives attached to the division while on intensive purposeful crime prevention patrol along Ikara-Tashan Yari Road intercepted a motorcycle conveying three persons riding in a suspicious manner.

“The operatives promptly caught up with the motorcyclist after a high-speed chase and two of the riders on sensing police pursuit jumped off the motorcycle and fled into the bush.”

“The operatives, upon search of the motorcycle recovered a concealed AK-47 rifle loaded with 10 rounds of live 7.62 X 39mm ammunition.”

Besides, DSP Jalige further stated: “In a related operation on the same September 9, 2022, at 0245hours, the operatives intercepted a suspicious Ford Mini Bus with Reg. No. ZAR 532 XR and the occupants rather than heed the police order to halt for search, engaged the operatives in a gun duel.

“In the ensuing melee, the hoodlums fled with varying bullet wounds leaving behind two female occupants of the said vehicle who were rescued.

“ Upon search of the vehicle, an AK-47 magazine loaded with 30 rounds of live 7.62 × 39mm ammunition were recovered.”

IN another development, the eldest brother of a former Plateau State governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kefas Ropshak, has been kidnapped by gunmen.

The elder Nengak Ropshak was kidnapped by the gunmen, at the weekend, in his Rin community in Qua’anpan Local Council.

Residents of the area told journalists that Ropshak’s abductors had contacted the family demanding N100 million ransom for his release.

Meanwhile, the spokesman of the Plateau State Police Command, DSP Alfred Alabo, could not be reached as at the time of filing this report.