An impressive joint operation by the Bauchi State Police Command and local hunter groups has resulted in the elimination of six suspected kidnappers who had been causing terror in communities within Ningi Local Government Area.
The operation also led to the recovery of N4,580,000 from the kidnappers’ hideout, as disclosed by Bauchi State Commissioner of Police Auwal Musa Mohammed during a press conference held in Ningi LGA on Wednesday.
According to the commissioner, the suspects were allegedly involved in the deaths of over eight individuals, including two traditional rulers, within the Kada and Gamiji communities of Burra District, Ningi, in July 2023.
Detailing the July incident, he stated: “You may recall that in July 2023, eight people, including the traditional rulers of Kada and Gamji villages in Ningi Local Government Area, were killed, and other residents were kidnapped to unknown destinations.”
He further highlighted the engagement with the kidnappers and bandits in a gunfight on December 26, 2023, at approximately 04:03 hours, resulting in the neutralization of six suspects by the team of detectives and the Ahmed Ali Kwara hunter group.
The seized items from the operation included two AK-47 rifles, 55 live ammunition rounds, four empty magazines, a Golf-3 model taxi, seven new Airtel SIM cards, three Tecno keypad phones, two iTEL keypad phones, and one Bontel keypad phone. Additionally, suspected stolen items were recovered, such as seven Tecno android phones, four Infinix android phones, four Tecno keypad phones, 24 mobile batteries, and 190 pieces of recharge cards for MTN and Airtel networks.
Commissioner of Police Mohammed emphasized that preliminary investigations revealed the bandits had committed crimes and caused havoc in three villages around Ningi within two weeks. He attributed the successful operation to the strategic review of police operations and the strong partnership with the Ahmed Ali Kwara hunter group based in Azare town.
