News
Police rescues 9 officers abducted by bandits in Katsina
BY NICHOLAS ABE
The Nigeria Police says it has rescued nine of its officers who were abducted about two weeks ago by suspected bandits in Katsina State.
The policemen were seized on November 8, 2020 while travelling between Kankara town and Sheme in Katsina, after the bus they boarded came under attack by heavily armed men, all said to dress in military camouflage.
A statement Friday by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba, said the officers, all Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs), were on their way to Gusau in Zamfara State from Maiduguri at the time of the incident.
“Two of the officers are currently receiving medical attention in a hospital, while the remaining seven are being debriefed,” Mba said in his statement.
According to the police spokesman, “Covert operation to locate and rescue the officers commenced immediately they were discovered missing en-route to their destination. Thus, the apparent delay in commenting on the unfortunate incident was a deliberate decision aimed at protecting the integrity and confidentiality of the rescue operation and the concomitant safety of the officers.
READ: Nigerian Army, main supplier of arms, ammunition to Bandits – Middle Belt leader
“It is also important to state that preliminary investigation has shown that the attack on the vehicle was an opportunistic crime as the officers were all travelling in mufti, unarmed and alongside other private citizens in the commercial vehicle. The total number of officers involved in the incident is nine (9) and not twelve (12) as previously, wrongly reported in some sections of the media.”
He said follow-up investigation into the incident was still ongoing while reassuring citizens of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu’s determination to ensure safer highways as Christmas approaches.