Suspected kidnappers went on rampage in the early hours of Tuesday at Tungan-Maje, a community in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, killed one police Inspector and abducted four residents after hours of gun duell with the operatives attached to Operation Puff Adder.
Eyeswitness claimed that the heavily-armed bandits reportedly went on rampage as they engaged both the police operatives and some vigilantes in a shoot-out
According to the source, an Inspector of Police and a member of vigilante were shot while trying to foil the abduction of some residents of the community.
“The entire residents of Anguwar Samu were gripped with fear because of the gunshots but unfortunately, they succeeded in abducting two people
“After the police and the vigilantes were overpowered, the kidnappers proceeded to New Poultry area of the council area where they also abducted two residents,” the eyewitness said.
However, the spokesperson of th FCT Police Command, ASP Mariam Yusuf, in a statement made available to newsmen on the incident, said that the police operatives repelled multiple attacks by suspected kidnappers in the wee hours of Tuesday.
According her, “following a distress call from Angwan Zegele, a joint team of police operatives from the command and Operation Puff Adder responded promptly as they engaged the heavily-armed hoodlums in a fierce gun battle.
“Unfortunately, one of the gallant officers, one Inspector Ambi John, attached to Operation Puff Adder, sustained fatal gunshot injuries during the operation and was rushed to the hospital where he died while receiving treatment.”
She however explained that the command had launched a strategic operation to the rescue four persons abducted from Dankusa still in custody of the hoodlums who escaped into the forest between the FCT and Niger State.
The PPRO added that the operatives of the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Squad have made some arrests in connection with the abduction.
Credit: Nigerian Tribune