The Kaduna State Police Command said on Wednesday that it had killed two suspected kidnappers and rescued 20 victims in two separate operations in the state.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Yakubu Sabo, in a statement on Wednesday night, said the policemen carried out the operations in Mararaban Jos along the Kaduna – Zaria highwa.

He added that in a second incident, three workers of Airtel Communications were rescued from kidnappers at Kidandan, Giwa Local Government Area of the state.

The statement read,

“The Kaduna State Police Command has in it relentless effort to curtail the incidence of banditry, kidnapping and other related violent crimes succeeded in foiling a kidnapping incidence, gunned down some suspected bandits and rescued eleven victims unhurt.

“On 22/1/2020 at about 0030hrs, the Command received a distress call through DPO Mararraban Jos that, some unknown armed bandits blocked the Kaduna-Zaria express highway and abducted eight persons from a Sharon bus on their way from Kano to Abuja namely; Aisha Umar, Samira Ibrahim Dakata, Safiya Idris, Hauwa Aliyu, Aisha Yakubu, Ma’aru Adam, Safiya Audu and Yahaya Bello respectively all of Kano State.

“On receipt of the information, the Command mobilized teams of operatives with some Armored Personnel Carrier (APCs) vehicles to the area, engaged the attackers, successfully gunned down two of the bandits and rescued all the eight victims unhurt while many other bandits escaped with bullet wounds.”

According to the spokesman, operatives of the Command is still on the trail of the hoodlums with a view to apprehending and bringing them to face justice.

Sabo also said in another separate incidence, on Tuesday, at about 6:00 am

“the Command received a distress call from good Samaritans through DPO Kidandan in Giwa L.G.A that, some bandits invaded Maidaro village and kidnapped three workers of Airtel Communication Company.

“The Command quickly mobilized operatives to the scene, engaged the hoodlums in a fierce gun duel and successfully rescued all the three workers unhurt namely; Henry Agim, Kamal Raman and Shegun Adejimoh.”

Sabo continued that while on man-hunt of the fleeing bandits,

“our operatives also intercepted nine other captives who were passengers of the Morcopolo luxurious bus that was attacked along Kaduna- Zaria Road on 14/01/2020 alongside the convoy of the Emir of Potiskum at foundation village.

“The victims are identified as; Abdulhafiz Wakil, Abdul Wasiu Jimmoh, Mujittaba, Hajara Usman, Emmanuela Dimka, Dahiru Isa and three others who were debriefed by the Commissioner of Police and supported to be reunited with their respective families.”

He also said the Commissioner of Police, Umar Muri commended Local communities for assisting the command to overcome the current security challenge in the state.

“The CP assures the good people of the State that the Command is resolute in its collective resolve to reduce crime to the barest minimum,” the statement said.