By Ngozi Uwujare
On January 14, 2023, police operatives attached to Rigakun Division of Kaduna State Police Command received a distress call that some five armed bandits had invaded the residence of one Umar at Amana Mai Madachi Village with a view to carrying out nefarious activities.
The state Police Commissioner, Mr. Yekini Ayoku told Saturday Sun that the suspected bandits and the police operatives had a serious encounter and in the process, the suspected bandits escaped with bullet wounds.
He said the police recovered a locally fabricated General Purpose Machine Gun with 10 rounds of live ammunition from the forest.
CP Ayoku said the crack operatives, alongside other local security stakeholders, swiftly mobilised and moved to the location where they engaged the bandits and thwarted their attempt to kidnap law abiding citizens.
He said during the tactically executed operation, one of the armed bandits clad in military camouflage uniform was neutralised while another escaped with various gunshot injuries. He said a serviceable AK47 rifle loaded with four rounds of live ammunition was recovered from the neutralized Bandits.
CP Ayoku also said that on January 13, 2023, the operatives attached to Saminaka Division launched a successful attack at Warsa Piti Area of Minaka Lore Local Government Area where they arrested two bandits – one Dauda Yusuf, 35, and Sani Ibrahim, 30, while conducting a search in suspected hideouts of criminals. They recovered a locally fabricated GPMG rifle with six rounds of live ammunition and a Dane gun, the police boss informed.
He explained that on January 25, 2023, operatives of the command acted on a credible intelligence and arrested one Sani Mamuda Hanazuwa, 25 years old, a notorious kidnapper who was on the command’s wanted list.
He said the suspect, Sani Mamuda has confessed to have participated in more than 10 kidnapping operations in Kaduna along with his gang members in which they had collected several ransom payments and killed at least two of their victims.
“On November 22, 2022, at Kasuwan Magani, in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State while acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the command busted a syndicate of four armed robbers and arm traffickers.
“The operatives initially arrested one Haruna Yusuf a.k.a. Hankalin Safe of Jarmai Village, Nasarawa Eggon, Nasarawa State with one dismantled AK 47rifle concealed in a sack inside the rim of the tyre chamber of his maroon coloured Ford vehicle with Reg. No.ABJ 948 AA.
“Also, the suspect, Haruna Yusuf confessed and led the police to the arrest of one Umar Katsina from whom he bought the AK 47 rifle in the sum of N1, 150,000 only while Umar Kasimu also led the Police to the arrest of one Peter Abimiku who confessed to have earlier bought the AK 47 rifle from one Solomon John who is now at large.
“He claimed to have bought the AK47 rifle from one Magaji of Zamfara state, who sent him the total sum of N1,700,000”, CP Ayoku said.
He said the police operatives recovered five fabricated revolver rifles with 15 cartridges from Umar Kasimu and Peter Abimiku.
He said on January 17, 2023, the operatives of the command while on a clearance patrol/ stop and search operation along Jos Road by Kangwa village in Soba Local Government Area of Kaduna State intercepted one Shede Alhaji Maude of Liman Ibada village in Soba Local Government Area of Kaduna State who was in possession of N820, 000 to be delivered to a certain Abdullahi Ahmed a.k.a Masara at Kawo Fly over bridge. He said the money was for the purchase of an AK 47 rifle for one Suleiman, who they claimed was also involved in kidnapping.
“Also, the Kabala West, DPO, CSP Murtala Ibrahim, and his officers had an encounter with armed robbers along Nnamdi Expressway and Southern Bypass in Hayin Mall Bello axis. They gave the hoodlums a hot chase when they wanted to operate, and were immediately intercepted by the operatives and in the process the hoodlums escaped with bullets wounds.”
CP Ayoku said that the police operatives searched and combed the hoodlums’ hideout and recovered AK47 rifle; three locally made fabricated revolver rifles; 15 cartridges; N925 cash and three mobile phones. He said all the arrested suspects will soon be charged to court.