The Niger State Police Command has neutralized two kidnappers during a gunfire exchange between officers, vigilantes and the kidnappers in the Saminaka forest of Lapai Local Government Area of the state.
Two other suspected kidnappers were arrested in Minna, the state capital.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, PRO, DSP Wasiu Abiodun made this disclosure in Minna.
He said on Sunday a victim reported that suspected kidnappers attacked his village, Zolegi via Saminaka Lapai, inflicted a machete cut injury on his head and kidnapped his wife to an unknown destination.
He explained, ” Police tactical team led by DPO Lapai and vigilante members mobilized and stormed Saminaka forest, where the kidnapped victim was suspected to have been kept by the abductors”
“While combing the forest, a gun duel ensued between the team and the hoodlums, and during the gun battle, two among the hoodlums were neutralized, while others escaped into the forest with bullet injuries, and one AK-47 rifle with twenty rounds of live ammunition was recovered”.
Abiodun disclosed that the abducted woman was rescued unhurt, and the injured husband was taken to a nearby medical facility for treatment.
Also, he revealed that based on credible intelligence received, Police operatives attached to FIB tactical squad arrested the two suspected kidnappers at Kure-Market Park, Minna during an attempt to board a commercial vehicle to Kebbi.
The suspects include Umar Aliyu 35 of Diri-Ndaji, Kebbi State, Moh’d Abubakar 25 of Peregi, Kogi State
According to him, during interrogation, Umar Aliyu confessed that he had participated in kidnapping activities at Sakaba in Kebbi last year and that he recently relocated from there to Angwan-Kuka area of Bosso, Minna as he had been on the run”
“He confessed further that he contacted Moh’d Abubakar from Kogi, a gang member he met at Sakaba to join him in Minna to proceed to Kebbi for a possible kidnap while Moh’d came to Minna with an AK-47 rifle”.
The suspects are under investigation and one AK-47 rifle with thirteen rounds of live ammunition was recovered in the operation.