Niger police rescue 15 abducted victims from forest, arrest three bandits

Fifteen kidnapped victims have been rescued by the police from a forest and three suspected bandits arrested in Lapai Local Government Area of the Niger State

The State Police spokesperson, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, who disclosed this in a statement on Friday May 13, said the victims were rescued after a fierce gun battle between the security operatives and the bandits.

Abiodun noted that the command also repelled an attack at Maraban Dan-Daudu in Shiroro Local Government Area of the state.

“Sequel to the ongoing onslaught against banditry and other criminality in the state, on 11/05/2022 at about 1330hrs, information was received that suspected armed bandits were sighted at Agigi/Kpashimi forest via Lapai LGA,” the PPRO stated.

“Police tactical team attached to Lapai Division with vigilante members were mobilized to the area where the bandits were engaged in gun duel and overpowered by the tactical team, while some of the hoodlums escaped into the forest with bullet injuries.

“Consequently, three suspects among the bandits were arrested, and fifteen victims abducted by the hoodlums were rescued from the forest,”

The suspects arrested are: Aliyu Mohammed Dauda,19,Wada Usman Shehu, 20, both of Maikunkele and Mohammed Shehu Abubakar,19, of Mayaki village, Lapai.

“Two burnt motorcycles were equally recovered from their camp, however, case under investigation as effort is ongoing to apprehend other members of the gang. Suspects will be arraigned in court after investigation,” he added.

“Similarly, on 12/05/2022 at about 0930hrs, armed bandits attempted to invade Maraban Dan-Daudu and Jiko villages via Gwada, Shiroro LGA

“Joint security team deployed to the area, with vigilante members responded and engaged the bandits in gun duel which lasted for hours. As a result of this, the bandits were repelled as most of the hoodlums escaped into the forest with bullet injuries after they suffered some casualties.”

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Monday Bala Kuryas, commended the efforts of the tactical teams and urged them to sustain the momentum towards curtailing banditry in the state.