Police rescue 22 kidnapped victims in Niger, foil attempt in Plateau

The Niger State Government yesterday said security operatives had rescued 22 farmers abducted on Friday at Kuchi community in Munya Local Government Area. 

The Commissioner for Internal Security and Humanitarian Affairs, Emmanuel Umar, who made this known in a statement, noted that among those rescued were infants.

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He said the victims were rescued after security forces were mobilised to the forests and they engaged the terrorists in a fierce gun fight. 

“During the encounter, the terrorists scampered into the overflowing river and forest belt, abandoning their victims and some of their items and equipment,” he said.

Umar said the victims had been debriefed and reunited with their families. 

He said one of the victims was still receiving treatment for gunshot wounds in a government-owned medical facility. 

Umar said the Niger State Government appreciated the efforts of the heads of security agencies in the state and that of the community leaders towards mitigating the spate of insecurity in some parts of the state.

The police public relations officer, Niger State Command, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, earlier said the victims were rescued by police tactical teams, with support from the vigilantes drafted to the area after the attack on Friday night.

In another development, the police in Plateau State foiled a kidnap attempt in Jebbu community of Bassa Local Government Area.

The commissioner of police in the state, CP Bartolommeo N. Onyeka, said the police succeeded in foiling the attempt following a distress call from a member of the community.

“Upon receiving this report, the DPO mobilised his men and raced to the scene. On sighting the patrol vehicle, the hoodlums, in their cowardly manner, started shooting at our personnel. In return, our gallant team engaged them fearlessly. Sensing the danger that was about to befall them, the hoodlums escaped into a nearby bush with bullet wounds,” he said.