From Ngozi Uwujare

Police operatives working with the ‘Operation Puff Adder’ and ‘Restore Peace  Operation’ of the Kaduna State Police Command  have arrested over 30 suspected bandits terrorizing the state.

The operatives also neutralised over 10 hoodlums and rescued three kidnapped Chinese expatriates as well as 10 other victims.

The hoodlums later abandoned over 50 sophisticated weapons at Galadimawa Forest in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Mr Yekini Ayoku told Saturday Sun that it has been a gallant exhibition by his officers in the month of October during which they had a serious war with the bandits and got many of them arrested.

He said his men have started waging war with the bandits and have arrested some of them in the kidnappers’ den at Galadimawa Forest where they were dislodged.

He said the fierce encounter saw the doggedness of the operatives which was met with stiff resistance from the hoodlums who at the end, succumbed to the professional power of the operatives and scampered deeper into the forest with varying degrees of bullet injuries.

CP Ayoku said the operatives of ‘Restore Peace’ arrested one of the bandits, a 20-year-old, Yusuf Monroe on August 20, 2022 with AK47 and AK49 rifles and five rounds of live 7.62x39mm ammunitions as well as a Tecno phone and a torch.

He further stated that on October 2, 2022 through some actionable intelligence around Sabon Gaya along Kaduna\Abuja Road, the police operatives intelligence intercepted a Sharon vehicle with Reg No: MNA 819NT driven by one Lawal Abdul of Minna, Niger State heading to Katsina State through Kaduna. He said it was through stop and search that they recovered some ammunitions like AK-47 rifle magazine, assault rifle, 18 rifle magazines and 241 rounds of live ammunitions from him.

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He said in October 2022, the police arrested a suspected gunrunner, one Ibrahim Musa of Yassimit Village of Niger State, who was driving en route to Katsina State from Plateau with 208 rounds of 7.62 times 39mm calibre of live ammunitions.

“Also, on October 8, 2022, the police apprehended a serial arms and ammunitions supplier, one Sanusi Ummaru,  29, of Nasa Village of Kichaga Local Government area with large numbers of 762mm calibre of live ammunitions around Galadimana Village in Giwa Kaduna State,” CP Ayoku said.

CP Ayoku explained further that in October 2022, the police operatives rescued a 67-year-old man, Ibrahim Ado who has been locked up in a room for 20 years. He said it was the environmental officials who quickly alerted Magaji Gari Divisional Police, whose operatives went to the scene and rescued the man from the room, saying he had directed a full investigation into the matter to apprehend any suspect associated with the gruesome act.

“Meanwhile, the police crack squad engaged with the bandits in a fierce gun battle on October 13, 2022 and successfully neutralised two bandits while others escaped with varying degrees of bullet wounds.

He said it was when searching the vicinity within  Galadimawa District of Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna  State that the police recovered AK49 rifle wrapped with 24 rounds of live ammunitions and one kidnapped victim, Yusuf Dahiru,  65, who was rescued unhurt. 

He said the operatives are currently combing the area with a view to apprehending the fleeing band of marauders.

CP Ayoku stated that the ‘Operation Puff Adder’ and ‘Operation Thunderstorm Strike’ also intercepted a group  of bandits while on their odious mission at Sabon Sara Village attempting to gain access to the Kaduna Expressway and they had encounter with the operatives and seven bandits were neutralised while others escaped into the forest. 

He said the police operatives gave them a hot chase and rescued victims from the hands of the bandits. 

“They combed all their hideouts and recovered 10 AK47 rifles, 30 rounds of ammunitions and Pump Action guns,” he said. CP Ayoku said that he appreciated the sacrifice of the officers and asked them to continue to make more sacrifice in order to restore public order and normalcy in the state. He said all the arrested suspects will soon be charged to court.