- Police kill three suspected kidnappers in Kaduna
John Shiklam in Kaduna and George Okoh in Makurdi
Suspected gunmen last Tuesday night attacked Mondo village in Ukemberagya Gaambetiev Logo Local Government Area of Benue State, killing five persons.
This is coming as three suspected kidnappers were yesterday killed by the police in Kaduna State.
According to a local source, a family of four was killed with their visitor.
He gave the names of the victims as Torkaa Gbim, Celina Tavershima, Ayilaga Tavershima, Sonter Tavershima and Terkaa Tavershima.
According to him, the gunmen suspected to be herdsmen, who were in their numbers, came around 11 p.m. and attacked the community resulting in the deaths of five persons. He added that some persons are still missing as a result of the attack.
Also, Chairman of Logo LGA, Mr. Richard Nyajo, who confirmed the report, said five persons, including a woman, was killed in the Mondo attack.
“Yes, five persons have been killed at Mondo in Ukemberagya ward. From the information I gathered, the attackers came between 10 – 11 p.m. of last Tuesday.
“The herdsmen came to the same place last year and killed so many people. When the attack was going on, I alerted troops of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), but the troops missed their way because the man in charge of our local government area is new to the area and is not familiar with the terrain,” he stated.
Commander of OPWS, Major General Adeyemi Yekini, who confirmed the killing, however, said it was a spillover from the Jukun/Tiv crisis at Kente, Wukari Local Government Area of the state.
Police Kill Three Suspected Kidnappers in Kaduna
Meanwhile, three suspected kidnappers were wedbesday killed by the police in Kaduna.
The kidnappers, numbering five and armed with AK47 rifles invaded the premises of Mother Cat, a construction company located at Mando area of Kaduna metropolis with the intention of abducting expatriates working with the company.
They were said to have broken into the company at about 5:40a.m., and engaged the policemen deployed in the company for security duties in a gun duel.
Three of the hoodlums were killed by the police while two policemen sustained injuries during the exchange of gun fire.
The two wounded policemen were rushed to the 44 Army Referral Hospital in Kaduna where one later died.
Confirming the incident in a statement, spokesman of the Kaduna State Police Command, Yakubu Sabo, said the gunmen entered the premises of the company at about 5:40p.m. and started shooting sporadically.
According to him, “At about 05: 40a.m. on Wednesday, some armed men entered the Mother Cat Company premises at Mando area, shooting sporadically and attacking policemen on guard duty.”
Sabo said the gallant policemen engaged the hoodlums in a fierce gun duel to repel the attack, and in the process, gunned down three of the criminals.
He said: “During the fierce gun duel, two of our men, AP No. 161126 Inspector Bijimi Maiyaki and F/No 251990 Sergeant Kabiru Shuaibu, attached to Operation Yaki, sustained injuries and were rushed to 44 Army Reference Hospital for treatment.
”However, Shuaibu died while receiving treatment while the Inspector was treated and discharged.”
Sabo said the items recovered from the hoodlums included four AK 47 Rifles, eight magazines with 130 live ammunition, five pieces of suspected Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and a Golf Volkswagen car with registration number W 812 FST.
He said police team of operatives was on the trail of the remaining two hoodlums who escaped with bullet wounds.
The state police spokesman appealed to members of the public to assist the police with prompt and relevant information on any suspicious movement in their respective neighborhoods so as to ensure effective and proactive crime prevention efforts.
