Police kill 3 suspected kidnappers, recover AK47 rifle in Niger

Three suspected kidnappers have been killed in Kpakiko forest, Mokwa LGA of Niger State.

The suspects were reportedly killed in gun duel with the police operatives after kidnapping a victim at Takuma village in the same LGA.

The spokesperson of the state police command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, in a statement, said the incident happened on October 9, adding that the victim was rescued while one of the kidnappers also sustained bullet injuries.

He said, “On 09/10/2024 at about 0025hrs, report was received at Mokwa Div that a victim was abducted by suspected kidnappers at Takuma village, Mokwa area, and one other was shot on the hand, but taken to hospital for treatment.

• Flooding: Reps ask FG to complete buffer dam in Adamawa
• Absolute LG autonomy will cause chaos, Soludo warns after signing LG law

“On the receipt of this, a combined team of police/vigilante members of the Div were mobilized and trailed the suspected kidnappers to Kpakiko forest. The police team engaged and had a gun duel with the hoodlums, three suspected kidnappers were neutralized in the process, and one AK-47 rifle with three live ammunition was recovered.”

Abiodun said the police had also arrested one 22-year-old Samaila Saidu, aka Litre, suspected to be a member of a bandit group in Izom market, Gurara LGA of the state.

He said during interrogation, the suspect told the police that he was from Dansadau area of Zamfara State but resided in Gwacipe area of Gurara, Niger State.

Abiodun said the suspect confessed that he had worked with Kachalla group for over two years during which he participated in series of robberies, cattle rustling and kidnappings in Mangoro, Sarkin-Pawa, Garun-Gabas, Bena, Kotonkoro in Munya and Rafi LGAs as well as the attack on Kagara town, among others.