Security operatives engaged armed bandits in a fierce gun battle along Kaduna-Abuja highway on Saturday night thwarting the bandits’ kidnapping attempt, while leaving six people with bullet injuries Kaduna state Police Command has said....CONTINUE READING
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Mansur Hassan, who disclosed this Tuesday night while responding to reports of kidnapping of scores of motorists by bandits along the Kaduna-Abuja thoroughfare, said there was nothing like that, adding that following an isolated breach of security on the highway, the bandits were fully dealt with and the highway has since been safeguarded again for safe passage by motorists, while admonishing journalists to always verify information before going to press.
Speaking in a statement on Tuesday the PPRO said, “the attention of the Kaduna state Police Command has been drawn to a misleading story going rounds on both the online and print media where it is alleged that armed bandits have abducted score of persons along the Kaduna – Abuja highway and whisked them to an unknown place. However, in order to constrict the misinformation flow, the Command wishes to set the record straight.
“There was a heavy gun duel along Kaduna – Abuja expressway between security operatives and armed bandits on the 6th January, 2024 at 2330 hours or thereabout. The incident occurred when the armed bandits in large numbers attempted to cross the said expressway at Dogon Fili area heading towards Jere axis and were engaged in a fierce shootout by the well alerted security agents who dislodged the hoodlums and ensured a lot of them only escaped but with gunshot wounds.
“Hence, the Police Command is calling on the public around that axis to be on the watch for any person or persons nursing suspected bullet injuries and report same to the closest Police station or any security outfit.
“In the course of the battle commuters plying the highway were caught in the crossfire where six persons sustained varying degrees of bullet injuries. They are; Jibrin Tasiu ‘M’ 27 years old; Jummai Abubakar ‘F’ 20 years; Zafira Abubakar ‘F’ 11 years and; AbdulKarim Nurudeen ‘M’ 2 years. Others are L/Cpl Chinedu Jerry Moneke 37 years and Ayo James ‘M’ 42 years old. They were all rushed to the hospital for medical attention.
“The Police Command wishes to further state that this was an unfortunate isolated incident in a long time as the Kaduna – Abuja expressway has since been fortified for the use of commuters thus, the general public should disregard the misleading fear inducing story.
“Equally, the Commissioner of Police Kaduna State Command, CP A.D. Ali is calling on journalists to always verify their story with concerned security agencies before going to press. He said this will ensure that only the right and correct information are availed to the public,” ASP Hassan added.
