From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
The Kaduna State Police Command has foiled kidnap attempt and rescued 76 victims.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Muhammed Jalige disclosed this on Monday in a statement made available to Journalists in Kaduna.
“On the 18th November, 2022 at about 2300hrs report was received at the Police Divisional Headquarters, Giwa that a large number of bandits wielding sophisticated weapons, blocked a section of Funtua-Zaria road at the Gulbala area of Giwa Local Government Area to consummate their evil mission of abducting innocent commuters.
“On the strength of the report, a combined team of Police and Military were immediately mobilized to the location with clear directives to dismantle the road blockade, root out the armed miscreants and rescue any victim they may have abducted.
“On reaching the location, a Ford open truck with Reg. No. APP 667 XG was found and information garnered had it that a large number of passengers in the truck have been moved off the road by the bandits.
“This development engendered an immediate search and rescue operation by the operatives in the adjoining forest. In the process of this, the bandits were encountered and by the sheer force of fire power pressure mounted on them by the security operatives, they were left with no option than to abort their nefarious mission and take to flight with injuries.
“Thorough combing of the forest several hours by the crack operatives succeeded in the rescue of a large number of victims totalling Seventy Six (76) comprising male and females of different ages.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the victims were passengers in the truck travelling from Sabon Birni LGA of Sokoto State en-route different destinations when they were intercepted by the marauders. Operatives are still in operation within the general area in search of the main truck driver and two other passengers who are yet to be accounted for”.
“The Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State Command, CP Yekini Ayoku, while noting this important breakthrough that was actualized through the vehicle of strong inter-service coordination and collaboration emplaced in Kaduna State, has assured that this will continue to be strengthened between and among all the agencies to extricate the public space from the enemies of our collective security”.
