The Kaduna State Police Command has announced the dismantling of a roadblock set up by bandits at Gulbala, Giwa Local Government Area of the state, while rescuing no fewer than 76 kidnapped passengers.
Command spokesman Mohammed Jalige said in a statement on Monday that the breakthrough came after a joint effort by the police and the military.
According to Jalige, troops are still working in the general area, looking for the main truck driver and the other two passengers who are still unaccounted for.
The police spokesperson said: “On November 18, 2022, at about 11:00 p.m., a report was received at the Giwa Police Divisional Headquarters that a large number of bandits using sophisticated weapons blocked a section of the Funtua-Zaria road in Gulbala area of Giwa Local Government. The area to carry out the nefarious mission of kidnapping innocent passengers .
“On the strength of the report, a combined team of Police and Military was immediately mobilized to the spot with clear instructions to dismantle the road block, root out the armed criminals and rescue any abducted victims.
“On arrival at the location, a Ford truck opened Reg. APP 667 XG no. it was discovered and information was gathered that a large number of passengers in the truck had escaped from the bandit.
“This development triggered an immediate search and rescue operation to apprehend the operatives in the forest. In the process, they encountered the bandits and due to the pressure of firepower exerted on them by the security operatives, they were left with no option but to abort their evil mission and escape with injuries.
“After combing the forest for several hours, the crack operators rescued a large number of seventy-six (76) victims, males and females of various ages.
“Initial investigations revealed that the victims, who were passengers in the truck, were traveling from Sabon Birni LGA of Sokoto State on their way to different destinations when they were intercepted by the robbers. Operatives are still working in the general area, looking for the main truck driver and two other passengers who are still unaccounted for.”
The state Commissioner of Police, Yekini Ayoku, stated that he commended the coordination and cooperation among the services of the security forces in the state to stamp out the clappers.
He assured that this synergy with the brother security agencies would be maintained in view of the efforts to eradicate banditry and other criminal elements from the situation.
“The Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State Command, Yekini A. Ayoku, while highlighting this important progress achieved through the vehicle of strong inter-service coordination and cooperation established in Kaduna State, has assured to continue to strengthen this among all agencies to free the public space from the enemies of our collective security” , added the note.
