The Jigawa State Police Command has rescued an 80-year-old kidnap victim, Hajiya Hajara, and neutralised five members of a kidnapping gang during a daring rescue operation.
According to a press statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, 12 armed bandits had abducted the elderly woman from her residence in Sarbi Village, Minjibir Local Government Area of Kano State, and attempted to flee through Jigawa State.
In a swift and coordinated response, police operatives, alongside local security outfits, stormed the gang’s suspected hideouts between Danzomo and Medi villages.
A gunfight ensued, resulting in the arrest of five suspects, including the gang’s kingpin, Yahaya, aged 35, while five others were neutralised.
The kidnapped victim was rescued unhurt and taken to a hospital for medical evaluation before being discharged.
Items recovered during the operation include two AK-47 rifles, one locally fabricated LAR rifle, fourteen live rounds of ammunition, two motorcycles, and two mobile phones.
In a similar development, men of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command dismantled a notorious armed robbery and carjacking syndicate, long responsible for a spate of high-profile crimes across the capital city.
Acting on credible intelligence, the operatives launched a coordinated joint operation and intercepted the gang as they prepared to attack an unsuspecting victim around the Maitama area.
The suspects, upon sighting the police, opened fire, triggering a fierce gun battle.
One of the gang’s most wanted members, Abdulmininu Bello, popularly known as “Babanle”, was neutralised during the exchange.
Seven other suspects were arrested at the scene, including Ibrahim Muhammad, 22, an ex-convict; Abubakar Abdullahi, 22; Sarajo Yusuf, 20; Sanusi Ali, 51; Abubakar Sani; Isiaka Adamu, another ex-convict; and Abdullahi Isah.
Exhibits recovered from the scene include four AK-47 rifles, two locally made pistols with ten rounds of 9mm live ammunition, eleven rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, one locally made shotgun, a 2004 Toyota Camry LE, and a red Boxer motorcycle.