December 24, (THEWILL) – The Kaduna Police Command has rescued 48 traders who were abducted on Wednesday by bandits along Birnin Gwari–Kaduna Road.
THEWILL had reported an attack on traders travelling in a convoy that was escorted by a police team along the Birnin Gwari-Kaduna highway.
However, the Spokesman of State Police Command, Mohammad Jalige, said the victims have been rescued by the police.
Jalige said the incident occurred when the traders from Udawa village, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State were attacked by bandits along the Birnin Gwari – Kaduna Road at about 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
He said: “On the December 22, 2021, at about 09.30hrs a team of policemen while escorting a convoy of traders from Udawa village in Chikun LGA along Birnin Gwari to Kaduna came under heavy gunshots by armed bandits, which led to the kidnap of a score of persons.
“However, the escort team reinforced themselves and engaged the bandits in a tactical pursuit in order not to harm the victims.
“Thus, the precision approach exhibited by the police officers forced the bandits to retreat and to abandon their victims as they scampered with bloody gunshot wounds”; adding that the operatives succeeded in rescuing 48 people to safety and were profiled and subsequently escorted to their destinations safely.
He added that information made available to the command had indicated that one woman was yet to be accounted for, stressing that efforts were being intensified to ensure her safe return.
According to Jalige, “additional manpower will be mobilised to the area to safeguard lives and properties of the civilian population in the area. The Commissioner of Police commended the officers for their resilience in the face of danger while serving their fatherland and tasked them to be adequately equipped and alert while embarking on such duties.”
