• Arrest Nine Suspects In Lagos
The Katsina State Police Command has confirmed the rescue of 14 persons, who were abducted on Thursday afternoon, by terrorists along the Kankara-Katsina Highway.
The victims were among the 18 passengers, who were abducted while travelling in a Katsina State Transport Authority (KSTA) bus from Funtua Local Council to Katsina.
Spokesperson for the police command, ASP Abubakar Aliyu, who made this known, however, said that four other victims were yet to be rescued.
Aliyu said that a combined team of police and other security operatives had engaged the terrorists in a gun duel before the victims were rescued.
He said that on the day of incident, “some suspected armed bandits armed with dangerous weapons such as AK-47 rifles attacked a KTSTA bus driven by one Dabo Filalawa, of Filin Polo quarters, Katsina State, at Gidan Kifi village via Kankara to Marabar Kankara road, enroute Funtua from Katsina, and kidnapped the occupants of the vehicle.
“Upon receipt of the report, a joint team of police operatives attached to Kankara Divisional Police Headquarters, military, and members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps, swiftly mobilised and responded to the scene where they engaged the hoodlums in a fierce gun duel and successfully rescued 14 kidnapped victims.
“Aggressive efforts are currently being made to ensure the unhurt rescue of the remaining four kidnapped victims,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, following the resolution of the Force to eradicate crime to the lowest, its operatives have sustained the fight against crimes and criminality.
Over the past weeks, the Nigeria Police, have recorded several achievements in this noble quest across the country and in a more recent happening, on the March 17, 2024, at around 10:30pm, the Commander PMF 20, Ikeja, Lagos led a joint team of mobile men and officers from Maroko Division to a suspected den of kidnappers, where they arrested nine kidnappers, rescued three kidnapped victims, recovered 10 mobile phones and two Point of Sale (PoS )machines.
According to police spokesman, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, “In a similar occurrence in the same Lagos State, on March 16, 2024, Police operatives of the Badagry Divisional Headquarters, Lagos State arrested one Abass Taiwo Hassan suspected of being the leader of a cult gang involved in the shooting of one Adeniyi Adebanjo on February 26, 2024 and upon his arrest, the suspect confessed to the crime and admitted to being the leader of a six-man cult gang.
“On March 15, 2024, at about 9.00pm, a surveillance team attached to Sabon Tasha Divisional Headquarters, Kaduna State, heard gunshots from Kapam community and promptly went to investigate. Upon arrival, they encountered a group of armed bandits and engaged them in a gun duel.
“The bandits yielded to the superiority of the operatives and fled while surrendering four persons they had abducted from their homes.
“Furthermore, on March 20, 2024, at around 07:30pm, the police surveillance team of the Elimgbu Divisional Headquarters, Port Harcourt while on routine patrol at the Oil Mill Market encountered and arrested three armed robbery suspects identified as Saviour Walson, 49, Ifeanyi Aaron, 35, and Chisom Kenneth, 24.
“A tricycle, one locally-made pistol and two live cartridges were recovered from the suspects and upon interrogation, they confessed to carrying out their robbery operations within the oil market and its environs, using the tricycle to convey unsuspecting passengers and then using the weapon to rob them of their valuables.
“Being fully aware of the security challenges besetting the country, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has made a clear declaration that the NPF would be the beacon of hope in times of despair, and work effectively to foster an environment where safety and justice are not mere illusions, but the foundations upon which our nation thrives. We must all remain vigilant and work together with the police to bring the realization of this utopia we yearn for.”
