A notorious kidnapper and gun runner has been successfully neutralised by operatives attached to the Katsina State Police Command.
Nigeriacrime.com learned that the operation, carried out on November 11th, 2023, at about 3:30 AM was a response to a tip-off about the activities of armed kidnappers operating in a farm on the outskirts of Yankara village, Faskari LGA, Katsina State.
Upon receiving the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Faskari swiftly mobilised a joint team comprising police operatives, vigilante members, and officers from the Katsina State Security Watch Corps. The team promptly responded to the scene, where they encountered suspected kidnappers armed with dangerous weapons, including AK 47 rifles.
Confirming the development, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, the suspects, upon noticing the presence of law enforcement, engaged the operatives in a gunfire exchange. Undeterred, the officers bravely returned fire, compelling the criminals to abandon their nefarious plans and flee into the nearby bush.
While combing the scene, the body of a neutralised suspected kidnapper, identified as Nazifi Ibrahim, a 22-year-old resident of Unguwar Tsamiya village, Faskari LGA, was discovered. Alongside the apprehended suspect, law enforcement recovered a significant cache of ammunition concealed in a sack. The seized items include one hundred and eighty-five (185) live rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, ninety (90) live rounds of 5.56mm M193 type 06 ammunition, and thirteen (13) AK-47 magazines.
Efforts are currently underway to apprehend the fleeing suspects as the investigation unfolds. CP Aliyu Abubakar Musa commended the professionalism, synergy, and bravery exhibited by the operatives during the operation. He urged officers and DPOs to enhance collaboration with relevant security agencies in their respective LGAs and emphasised the importance of working closely with the State Security Watch Corps to bolster the security of citizens.
The Commissioner of Police also called on the public to continue providing crucial and timely information on criminal activities, enabling swift and decisive actions to curtail criminality in the state. Additionally, he urged citizens to report to the nearest police station any individuals seen with suspicious injuries, as some of the bandits may have escaped the scene with gunshot wounds.