Operatives of the Kebbi State Police Command have arrested two suspected kidnappers and rescued a 14-year-old boy unhurt during a joint security operation in Ka’oje, Bagudo Local Government Area of the state.
According the command, the suspects, identified as Aliyu Alhaji Shehu (alias Altine), 25, and Abubakar Umar (alias Bube), both from Orda village in Bagudo LGA, were arrested following a gun battle between police operatives and the kidnappers in Sada forest in the state.
The kebbi State Police Command Public Relations Officer, CSP Nafi’u Abubakar, who confirmed the development through a statement issued on Sunday, According to a statement issued the operation followed a report that a gang of five armed men had, on October 18, invaded the home of one Alhaji Buda Sambo, abducting his 14-year-old son, Aliyu Buda, and whisking him away to an unknown destination.
“Acting on credible intelligence, the Divisional Police Officer, Ka’oje, mobilised a combined team of policemen and local vigilantes who pursued the hoodlums into Sada forest and engaged them in a fierce gun duel.
“As a result of the superior firepower of the team, the kidnappers fled into the forest with suspected gunshot wounds,” the statement partly read.
Abubakar, who disclosed that the kidnapped boy was later rescued unhurt and reunited with his family after receiving medical attention, also disclosed that during a search operation, a locally made revolver and one live ammunition were recovered from the residence of one of the suspects.
According to the state police image-maker, preliminary investigations revealed that the arrested suspects and their fleeing accomplices — identified as Dogo, Magaji, Bande, and Janyo, all from Bagudo and Orda villages — were responsible for multiple kidnapping incidents, including the abduction of a 70-year-old man, Alhaji Alti, on October 28.
The state police publicist, quoted the state Commissioner of Police, CP Bello Sani, in the statement to have commended the Ka’oje Divisional Police Officer and his team for their professionalism and swift response.
Sani, who urged them to sustain the synergy with local vigilantes to combat kidnapping and other violent crimes in the area, futher directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Birnin Kebbi for further investigation and efforts to track down the fleeing suspects.
The state police boss also appealed to residents to remain calm, vigilant, and continue to support security agencies with credible information to aid ongoing operations.
