Police in Bauchi neutralize five kidnappers, secure release of ransom hostage
Police in Bauchi neutralize five kidnappers, secure release of ransom hostage
Story from Ahmad SAKA, Bauchi
The Bauchi State Police Command achieved a significant victory by neutralizing five suspected kidnappers who had been causing fear in the Jama’are Local Government area of the state.
Additionally, the police successfully rescued a kidnapped victim who had been subjected to a demanding ransom.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Superintendent of Police SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, the operation unfolded as follows: “A combined team of operatives, in collaboration with a local quasi-security outfit, confronted a group of suspected kidnappers and bandits in Jamaare. In the exchange, three AK-47 rifles, one SMG rifle, three empty magazines, one hundred and five rounds of live ammunition, and one cutlass were seized from the gang.”
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Wakil further explained that the intense encounter occurred on the night of August 29, 2023, on the outskirts of Jamaare town.
The police operatives, in line with the mandate of Operation Restore Peace (ORP), were conducting routine surveillance and raids on suspected criminal hideouts.
Suddenly, they came under heavy gunfire from a well-armed criminal gang. The operatives displayed remarkable bravery, repelling the attack and ultimately neutralizing five of the gang’s leaders, while the remaining members fled.
In a related development on August 30, 2023, another incident unfolded.
Wakil recounted, “Information reached the Command that a group of about ten armed men invaded the home of Emeka Asogwa in Itas-Gadau LGA, kidnapping him and subsequently demanding a ransom of ten million naira (₦10,000,000.00).”
In response, a team of detectives, in collaboration with local security hunters, sprang into action, swiftly rescuing the kidnapped victim. Intensive efforts are underway to apprehend the culprits responsible for this act.
Wakil emphasized, “Preliminary investigations suggest that these notorious kidnappers and bandits have been responsible for terrorizing various areas in Bauchi and Jigawa States, including Buji, Mashema, Itas-Gadau, Gwaram, Sara, Birnin Kudu, Ningi, and Burra.”
He reassured the public that investigations into these cases are ongoing, and efforts to capture other gang members who remain at large are being intensified.
Wakil concluded by saying, “The Bauchi State Police Command remains resolute in its commitment to ensuring criminals find no refuge in the State. Safety and security are not solely the responsibility of law enforcement agencies; the public is encouraged to actively contribute to peace by providing valuable information to the police.”
He further commended police operatives for their bravery and dedication to serving the nation and its citizens.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Auwal Musa Muhammad, echoed this sentiment and called on the law-abiding citizens to continue supporting the police and other law enforcement agencies in their efforts to maintain security in the state.