The police in
Bauchi State have arrested 19 suspected kidnappers for allegedly attacking some
villages in the state and holding 48 persons hostage for ransom.
Our
correspondent learnt that the suspects were arrested in the Toro, Gumau and
Ningi areas of the state between Thursday, January 5 and Tuesday, January 10.
According to
the police, when the suspects sighted the operatives, they opened fire which
triggered a gun battle. Some of the hoodlums abandoned their rifles and escaped
into forests with bullet injuries, but 19 of them were arrested.
Three suspects
were arrested in Yuga Forest while one was nabbed in Jimi village. One suspect
was picked in Tama District, two in Ningi and three in Kundum village.
Three suspects
were arrested in Giwa hamlet, three in Ganjuwa, one in Tashan, and two in the
Alkaleri area.
Weapons
recovered from the suspects included eight AK 47 rifles, one AK 49 rifle, two
automatic pump action rifles, six machetes, 49 cartridges, 330 assorted
ammunition, N338,190, and 37 cows, among others.
The Bauchi
State Commissioner of Police, Zaki Ahmed, who confirmed the arrests, said the
police would charge the suspects to court at the end of investigation.
He said, “In
order to stem the tide of rampant cases of kidnappings, cattle rustling and
armed banditry along Toro, Gumau and Ningi areas, the Bauchi State Police
Command stormed Yuga forest, a notorious hideout for kidnappers in Toro area of
Bauchi to apprehend the hoodlums.
“The police
rescued hostages who were held in the forests and awaiting ransom payment by
their families. Forty-eight hostages were rescued in good condition of
health."
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