Bandits kill 4 policemen, abduct village head in Kaduna, cleric in Ondo

From Tijjani Ibrahim (Katsina), Mohammed I. Yaba (Kaduna), Tosin Tope (Akure) & Iniabasi Umo (Uyo)

 

At least four mobile policemen were killed and two others injured in a bandit attack in Katsina State on Sunday.

It was gathered that one of the injured officers is in critical condition and receiving treatment at the Federal University Teaching Hospital Katsina.

The ambush occurred as the officers were travelling from Zandam in Jibia Local Government Area to the main town of Jibia.

The policemen, based in Zandam, only travelled to Jibia to purchase necessary supplies.

Sources said tension had been building since about 15 bandits were arrested in Zandam town two months ago.

They said those arrested were not informants but were directly involved in bandit activities, such as armed operations and cattle rustling.

An attempt to confirm the incident from Katsina police spokesperson, ASP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, was unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls or messages at the time of reporting.

In another incident, bandits abducted the village head of Tunburku in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Malam Ashiru Sherehu.

He was kidnapped while returning from his farm on Saturday.

Hussaini Umar, a traditional leader and Sarkin Fadan Galadimawa, confirmed the abduction, stating that the village head was taken around 5:00 pm on Saturday.

The bandits have yet to make contact for ransom, he said.

Umar also said two other farmers were abducted in Sabon Layi under the Kidandan ward while working on their farms on Sunday afternoon.

The Kaduna State Police Command has not yet commented on the incident. Attempts to reach the command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, were unsuccessful.

Bandits abduct cleric in Ondo

Anthony Ebele, a cleric with one of the popular pentecostal churches in Ondo State, has been abducted by suspected armed bandits.

Pastor Ebele was kidnapped on Saturday while working on his farm at Ogbese in Akure North Local Government Area of the state.

A church member, who preferred to be anonymous, disclosed the news of the kidnapped cleric, in a brief telephone conversation, on Sunday evening.

One of the family members contacted for details over the abduction of the cleric failed to speak with our reporter, citing security reasons.

A police spokeswoman in the state, Funmi Odunlami-Omisanya, who confirmed the kidnap case, said the cleric was abducted on Saturday around 10 pm.

Victim rescued; kidnappers killed in Akwa Ibom

Police in Akwa Ibom State have rescued a kidnapped victim following a shootout that resulted in the death of two suspected kidnappers.

Police spokesperson, ASP Timfon John, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

He said the abducted victim was abandoned at Afaha Nsit in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area, where he was rescued and promptly taken to the Police Clinic for medical treatment.

John explained that the police tactical teams swiftly responded to the kidnapping report and engaged in a gun battle with about six armed kidnappers.

He said in the exchange of fire, two of the kidnappers sustained fatal injuries and later died in the hospital.

The remaining assailants managed to escape with the victim, he added.