Four suspected bandits have been killed by the Bauchi State Police Command in collaboration with other security operatives during a gun duel in the Alkaleri Local Government Area of the state.
According to The PUNCH, while the hoodlums killed one citizen, security agents apprehended four criminals and rescued six abduction victims.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakil, said that on January 9, 2023, an operation was carried out based on solid intelligence that about 11 p.m., a gang of armed individuals attacked Dan village via Duguri District of Alkaleri LGA.
According to Wakil, a Superintendent of Police, during the siege, gunmen attacked the home of a 70-year-old man named Saleh Umar (aka Saleh Burga) and assassinated him.
“Upon receiving this information, police operatives were drafted and immediately arrived at the scene. But the hoodlums took to their heels on sighting the police team. The victim was rushed to Gar Primary Health Care Centre, Bauchi, but was later pronounced dead by a medical doctor.
“Nevertheless, efforts were intensified in a bid to trail and apprehend the perpetrators to face the wrath of the law.
“Consequently, on December 10, 2023, police operatives, in conjunction with locals, ambushed and neutralised two of the armed kidnappers, while the remaining suspects were subdued by the superior firepower of the operatives and forced to scamper in disarray into the nearest bushes with possible bullet wounds,” he added.
Wakil stated that one AK-47 rifle, three magazines, and four 7.6239mm live ammo were seized.
According to a police spokeswoman, on January 10, 2023, agents from the command’s anti-kidnapping unit in Alkaleri were on a normal patrol with hunters in Dajin Madam and Yankari forest when they came upon a hut thought to be a kidnapper’s lair.
According to reports, the operatives sealed off the area and apprehended three people.
He said, “Consequently, a search was conducted at the suspicious hut, where 22 rounds of 7×62.51mm NATO ammunition were recovered.
“During interrogation, all three suspects confessed to have partaken in several kidnapping activities around the Alkaleri axis.
“Also, around 2.30pm on January 7, 2023, following an intelligence report, a combined team of police operatives in conjunction with local hunters, struck a kidnappers’ hideout near Mansur Forest.
“Consequently, two of the bandits were neutralised and a fabricated SMG rifle, and three operational motorcycles (Honda Bajaj) were equally recovered during the operation.”