Katsina State Governor, Dr. Dikko Radda, has commended the military, Department of State Services (DSS) and vigilantes for foiling an attempted mass kidnapping in Gidan Iyado, Kakumi Ward, Bakori Local Government Area of the state.
The governor’s commendation followed an intelligence-led operation on Monday in which security forces neutralised 18 armed bandits and recovered several weapons and rustled livestock.
A statement by the State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Nasir Mua’su, said the operation was carried out following credible intelligence about a planned mass abduction for ransom by the criminal group.
According to Mua’su, the security forces laid an ambush using operational assets and engaged the bandits, who were allegedly led by one Alhaji Musa Duki, a former school headmaster turned bandit kingpin operating from Mununu Forest in Faskari Local Government Area.
“The operation was intelligence-driven. Acting on credible information about planned mass abduction for ransom by the criminal group, our forces laid ambush using operational assets and engaged the bandits,” he said.
The commissioner said the security forces recovered one G3 rifle, two AK-47 rifles, 14 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, three motorcycles, two cows and 94 sheep.
According to him, Governor Radda commended the gallantry of the security forces and assured residents that a sustained covert operation was ongoing to track and neutralise the kingpin and dismantle his network completely.
“We will not relent until every forest and hideout is cleared,” he quoted the governor as saying.
Mua’su added that efforts were ongoing by the military and DSS to identify other members of the network, locate their hideouts and thwart further kidnapping operations in Bakori, Faskari and neighbouring communities.
Boluwatife Enome
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