NAF Airstrikes Neutralise 30 Kidnappers In Kaduna
…Police Rescue Three Abducted Victims In Abuja
The Air Component of Operation Whirl Punch, Nigeria Air Force (NAF), has killed at least 30 terrorists and kidnappers in an air strike along the Kwiga-Kampanin Doka axis in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
A statement, on Monday, by NAF Director, Public Relations and Information, AVM Edward Gabkwet, said the strike followed intelligence received on the movement of the criminals along the axis.
Gabkwet said the intel also revealed that the same syndicate was responsible for the ambush on troops at Kwanan Mutuwa on January 27, as well as several attacks and abductions of innocent civilians in Birnin Gwari.
According to him, a deliberate and detailed scan revealed a trail of terrorists moving in a convoy of about 15 motorcycles, each with at least two armed terrorists.
“Accordingly, the terrorists were trailed to a location where they converged before they were engaged and neutralised in a precision strike. The aftermath of the air strike revealed that several of the terrorists were eliminated as a result of the strike,” he said.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has commended the commander and his troops for their precision.
“While this does not call for celebration on our part, I must commend the professionalism of the crew for patiently trailing the criminals until an appropriate opportunity to strike presented itself. We must keep pushing and striving,” he said.
Police Rescue Three Kidnapped Victims In Abuja
Meanwhile, the Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) says it rescued three kidnapped victims in Karmo area of Abuja on January 28, 2024.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the FCT, SP Josephine Adeh, said this during a news conference on Monday in Abuja.
She said the victims were rescued following report at Karmo Divisional Police Headquarters by one Peter Ede.
Adeh said that Ede had told the police that some criminals abducted their church members while praying at Idu Gbagyi Mountain in Karmo.
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She said the church members were praying at the mountain at about 1:50a.m., when some criminal elements, armed with guns and cutlasses attacked and abducted three of them.
According to her, upon receipt of the report, police operatives from Karmo Division led by the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Abaya Haruna, swiftly mobilised to the scene.
She said the operatives combed the surrounding bushes and hills between Karmo and Gwagwa, and engaged the hoodlums in a serious gun-duel.
“It was in the process that the three victims, Igbodi Emeka, Precious Uche and Eric Chukwudi were rescued unhurt,” she said.
Similarly, Adeh said police operatives from Iddo Divisional Headquarters, on January 28, rescued one Joshua Eze.
She said Eze was rescued following a distress call on January 27 at about 11:30p.m. that sounds of gunshots were heard around Sabon Lugbe area.
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“Police patrol team were drafted to the scene where they met one Blessing Eze with a bullet wound on her shoulder inside a Toyota Corolla car with registration number RSH 724 KC.
“The said Blessing explained that she and her husband were returning home when some hoodlums in a vehicle blocked their vehicle, shot at them and abducted her husband.
“In response, operatives of the Special Intervention Squad (SIS), police anti- kidnapping unit of the command and other tactical section swung into action and the victim was rescued unhurt at Kuje forest,” she said.
Adeh said that the command had prevented several heinous crimes and pledged its commitment to continue to work with FCT residents to address crime in the territory.
She, therefore, called for cooperation and understanding of the public to ensure effective policing in the FCT.