The Bauchi Police Command with support from local hunters have neutralized a trans-border kidnapping gang in Giade local government area of Bauchi State.

The Bauchi Command Police Commissioner, Auwal Muhammad told journalists on Monday that a team of police and hunters engaged the kidnappers in a gun duel yesterday, killing all five of them.

He said that the kidnapping gang have been terrorizing Burra, Ningi, Jama’are, Itas-Gadau, and Giade local government areas of the state.

“Taping from the fruits of collaboration with relevant security agencies, on the 11th February 2024 at about 0200hrs, information at the disposal of the Command indicated that some unknown people numbering about five (5) armed with AK-47 riffles, invaded Giade LGA with the sole aim to kidnap innocent citizens of the locality.

“On receiving the information, a team of detectives in collaboration with Ahmed Ali Kwara Hunters Squad, swiftly swung into action and engaged the suspected kidnappers in a gun duel. As a result, all of the suspected bandits were neutralized instantly,” he said.

The Commissioner further noted that preliminary investigation uncovered that the suspected kidnappers were invited from Bauchi and Taraba states by one Abdullahi whose surname is not yet known.

“Furthermore, the kidnappers were the same gang who kidnapped one Emeka of Itas-Gadau some time in the year 2023 and collected the sum of ten (10) million naira as ransom; they also kidnapped one person in Giade and collected the sum of Seven hundred and seventy-four thousand nairas (774,000).

“The suspected kidnappers were not limited to kidnapping and criminal activities but also engaged in a hire killing of people. They were paid and they killed/burned to ashes one Ibrahim Dodo of Baranda village Jigawa State,” he added.

He also noted that the Command recovered one hundred and three (103) live ammunition 7.62x39mm caliber of AK47 riffle; Three (3) live ammunition 9mm caliber; Four (4) Cartridges; Five (5) magazine; Two (2) locally made Pistol; One (1) AK-47 riffle; One (1) AK-49 riffle and One (1) locally-made AK-47.

END.