Bandits Storm Kaduna-Zaria Road In Night Raid, Kill Many, Kidnap Scores

• Police neutralise 2 bandits, recover arms, confiscate motorbikes

BY SEGUN ADEBAYO – With security forces hot on their trail along the Kaduna-Abuja highway, bandits, now taking refuge in the forests around the Kaduna-Zaria dual carriageway, on Monday night attacked travellers, killing many in the process.

Reports said that a respected community leader in the state, Alhaji Sani Dogara was also killed during the attack that had the bandits allegedly abducting some of the travellers.

This is as the Kaduna State Police Command said on Tuesday morning that its operatives in Zaria have killed two bandits and recovered motorcycles used by them to terrorize residents of Zaria and its environs.

According to Police reports, some of the travellers were felled by the bullets when the bandits opened fire on their vehicles while others scampered to safety with the unlucky ones allegedly taken away by the attackers.

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tijjani Ramalam, who confirmed the unfortunate incident, said the community leader, Dogara was killed by the bandits around 8 pm on his way to Kaduna from the Zaria axis on Monday.

With reaction still being expected from the Kaduna Police Command on Dogara’s gruesome murder, his relations said they have left everything in the hands of Almighty Allah.

However, a statement by the Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Muhammed Jalige, said; “on the 13th December 2021, at about 1630hrs, the Operatives of the Command attached to 47 PMF Squadron Zaria, while on confidence-building patrol within Fatika district of Giwa LGA, Kaduna State intercepted some Bandits around Riheyi village of the same district.

“The operatives while in a gun battle with the bandits, gunned down two, while others ran away with bullets wounds.”

The Police Spokesman further stated that “having applied gallantry and firing precision that successfully neutralized two bandits, they recovered an AK47 rifle loaded with ten (10) rounds of 7.62 X 39mm live ammunition and an operational motorcycle.”

ASP Jalige further quoted the Commissioner of Police Kaduna Command, CP Mudassiru Abdullahi as commending “the Officers for their display of professionalism, cum uncommon courage to achieve the desired results.”

The Police boss also “tasked all operational and tactical Commanders to imbibe the culture of rigorous patrols in all nooks and crannies within their areas of jurisdiction”, warning that; “As the festive period is fast approaching, bandits and criminals would like to terrorise innocent people.”