Kaduna: Nigerian Army Neutralizes 3 bandits, as Police rescue 2 clerics
By Matthew Atungwu
Soldiers from 1 Division of the Nigerian Army and Operation Whirl Punch have killed three bandits and retrieved weapons, while agents of the State Police Command have freed two clerics in Kaduna state.
The Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations 1 Division Nigerian Army, Musa Yahaya in a statement, explained that” on 5 November 2023, while on clearance operation in the general area of Maidaro, Ngade, Ahla and Rikau Villages in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area, troops made contact with terrorist and criminal elements.
On sighting the troops, the terrorist took to their heels as troops pursued and neutralized two while others escaped with gunshot wounds and abandoned one motorcycle”
“Similarly, on 5 November 2023, troops carried out a discreet operation around Tantatu and Antena general area in Chikun Local Government. During the operation, troops neutralized one terrorist, captured one AK 47 rifle, one AK 47 magazine, quantity seven of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition and two techno phones”
“The General Officer Commanding 1 Division Nigerian Army and Force Commander Operation Whirl Punch Maj Gen VU Okoro has applauded the troops for their remarkable resilience and charged them to sustain the tempo until all terrorists and criminals in the Division’s Area of Responsibility are completely annihilated.
“He also appealed to the good people of Kaduna State to continue to avail the Nigerian Army and other security agencies with credible and actionable intelligence,” Yahyah stated.
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In the meantime, on April 11, 2023, at approximately 1000 hours, Kaduna Police Command agents stationed at Kafanchan Divisional Headquarters responded to a distress call from the Godo-godo Police Outstation.
According to the report, Reverend Father Andrew Amana of St. Francis Catholic Church Godo-godo in Jema’a local government area was abducted on March 11, 2023, at approximately 2230 hours, by unknown gunmen and taken to an undisclosed location.
The PPRO of the Kaduna Police Command, ASP Mansir Hassan, stated that the agents followed the gunmen to their hiding place in the large Dogon Kurmi woodland, where a gunfight broke out, working with local vigilantes.
By using a tactical maneuver, the operators were able to remove the thugs and save the clergyman without any injuries.
”Two number of suspects, namely; Lawal Muhammad 27 years, and Ya’u Hussain 30 years both males of Datti and Dogon kurmi villages respectively were arrested. Equally, an AK-47 rifle loaded with two rounds of live 7.62 X 39mm ammunition was recovered from the said suspects.”
“Preliminary investigation reveals that the motive of the armed hoodlums who abducted the Reverend father was basically financial since a four million naira ransom had already been agreed with the family of the victim before the Police Operatives struck.
“The gunmen were four in number thus, two are still at large, though strongly suspected to be nursing gunshot wounds from the violent combat.
“Hence, the Police Command is calling on the public around that axis to be on the watch for any person or persons nursing suspected bullet injuries and report same to the closest Police station or any security outfit.”
“The Commissioner of Police Kaduna State Command, CP Musa Yusuf Garba while commending the Operatives for the recorded success, charged them not to relent in denying criminal elements in the State of any operating space. He again called on the members of the public to always be on the lookout for suspicious characters in their area and report them to any nearest security agency,” he said.
