Sophia Michaels
The Bauchi State Police Command disclosed that the kidnappers had requested a ransom of 50 million naira from each of the 39 victims who were recently abducted in Yankari Forest, Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State, prior to their rescue by security forces.
The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ahmed Wakil, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Saturday.
The security operatives, while trying to rescue the abducted victims, killed 10 of the kidnappers.
The victims were rescued following a successful operation by “Operation Sharan Daji” which comprises two Police Tactical Units; the Anti-kidnapping Unit, Rapid Response Squad, and Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps set up by the Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, Auwal Muhammad, to sanitize kidnappers’ dens and rescue the kidnapped victims.
Wakil said the joint operation has carried out several successful operations within and outside of the state which include the successful operations carried out in the Maina-maji area of Alkaleri LGA.
“On the 15th September 2023 at about 7.00pm, the commands “Operation Sharan Daji” team in conjunction with relevant stakeholders (hunters) led by CSP Makama Magaji, acting on credible intelligence swiftly ransacked a suspected kidnapper’s enclave and engaged the culprits in a heavy gun battle.
“Consequently, they emerged victorious as the result of their superior firepower against the kidnappers. The operatives successfully defaced the suspected kidnappers to whisk them away in disarray with serious bullet wounds into the nearest bushes and successfully rescued kidnapped victims therein.
“However, the operatives were able to neutralize about 10 suspected kidnappers/bandits at a red mountain (Jan-Dutse) situated in Yankari forest and rescued 39 kidnapped victims consisting of 28 males, eight females, and three infants both old and young of age unhurt.
“They were reunited with their respective families after a medical check-up at the General Hospital Alkaleri,” he said.
According to him, preliminary investigation revealed that the kidnappers invaded Gaji village, attacked and abducted the victims who were on their way back home.
He said: “The kidnappers shot two drivers of a tricycle and motor vehicle at the spot and they sustained serious injuries before they proceeded to their camp.
“Subsequently, the kidnappers demanded the sum of 50 million from each of the victims as ransom before the successful rescue operations by the “Operation Sharan Daji” which put all their plans in futility.”
He said that the Commissioner of Police in the State, CP Auwal Muhammad, who commended the operatives for their selfless service to the nation and humanity, reassured the citizens of Bauchi that the war against crimes and criminality would soon be won.
According to him, the CP called for continuous support for the police and other law enforcement agencies, promising that the security agencies will not rest on their oars till normalcy is restored in every part of the state.
