Bandits intercept vehicles on Abuja-Kaduna highway, kidnap passengers

Bandits invaded Abuja-Kaduna highway where they intercepted vehicles and kidnapped several passengers in the operation.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the Kaduna State Police Command, Mohammed Jalige, was said to have acknowledged the operation of the bandits, who he said blocked the Audu Ogbe axis of the Highway, near Katari village at about 4.20pm last Tuesday.

According to the PPRO, “the bandits obstructed several vehicles, took some persons away to an unknown destination.” He said, however, that the State Police Command responded promptly, detached a team to the scene to forestall the kidnapping of more passengers by the bandits.

The operatives were said to have overwhelmed the bandits in an exchange of gunfire, compelling them to abandon the scene and flee.

The State Police Command, in another security operation, arrested a suspected bandit and gun runner in Zaria Local Government Area, Kadina State.

The police identified the suspect as Rilwanu Abdullahi from Damari village in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of the State. The police said the suspect was sighted on Tuesday with a Volkswagen car in a suspicious manner around the Madachi area of Zaria.

The suspect attempted to flee on sighting the police, but the operatives ran after him and got him arrested.

The police searching the Volkswagen with Reg.no KNC 816 XC, found an AK47 Rifle with 600 rounds of 7.62 X 39mm live ammunition.

The suspect during interrogation, led detectives to another location where an additional Volkswagen car with Reg. No AX 973 LGA was found with live ammunition hidden in the fuel tank of the car. The police said investigations are going on.