Operatives of the Bauchi State Police Command, in a joint operation with local hunter groups, have successfully neutralised six suspected kidnappers who had been terrorising communities in Ningi Local Government Area.
NEWSUNPLUG reports that the operation also led to the recovery of N4,580,000 from the kidnappers’ hideout.
Bauchi State Commissioner of Police Auwal Musa Mohammed revealed these developments during a press conference held in Ningi LGA on Wednesday.
He said the suspects in question were allegedly responsible for the deaths of over eight individuals, including two traditional rulers, in the Kada and Gamiji communities of Burra District, Ningi, in July 2023.
He recounted the July incident, stating: “You may recall that in July 2023, eight people, including the traditional rulers of Kada and Gamji villages in Ningi Local Government Area, were killed, and other residents were kidnapped to unknown destinations.
“Consequently, the Command formed a team of detectives, along with the Ahmed Ali Kwara hunter group, and successfully engaged the kidnappers and bandits in a gunfight on December 26, 2023, at approximately 04:03 hours, neutralising six of them.”
The recovered exhibits included two AK-47 rifles, 55 live ammunition rounds, four empty magazines, a Golf-3 model taxi, seven new Airtel SIM cards, three Tecno keypad phones, two iTEL keypad phones, and one Bontel keypad phone.
Additionally, suspected stolen items were seized from the deceased suspects, including seven Tecno android phones, four Infinix android phones, four Tecno keypad phones, 24 mobile batteries, and 190 pieces of recharge cards for MTN and Airtel networks.
Commissioner of Police Mohammed said further that preliminary investigations revealed that the bandits had invaded three villages around Ningi within two weeks, committing crimes and wreaking havoc.
He attributed the success of the operation to a strategic review of police operations and a robust partnership with the Ahmed Ali Kwara hunter group based in Azare town.