Suspected kidnappers, rustlers kill policeman in gun duel

The police in Kwara State have arrested a gang of suspected kidnappers and rustlers who allegedly rustled over 200 cows and killed a police officer in a gun duel before their arrest.

The Kwara State Commissoner of Police, Lawan Ado, while parading the suspects before newsmen at the police headquarters in Ilorin, said they were arrested in Niger State where they had escaped to.

Ado said the police from the Niger State Command were able to arrest the suspects after his command shared intelligence about the movement of the suspects with the Mokwa Police Station in Niger State.

The commissioner said in the process of arresting the suspects, a Corporal, Machi Yusuf, who was an operative of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), unfortunately lost his life.

CP Ado said the policeman died in an exchange of fire with the kingpin of the kidnap gang, Adamu Abacha.

He said after the clash, Abacha escaped into the bush and that while the SARS operatives were combing the bush for him, they found his body and also recovered his AK 47 rifle.

The commissioner said 233 cows were recovered from the gang and that six live ammunition were retrieved alongside the rifle of their dead boss.

He said six of the gang’s members who were arrested would be charged to court as soon as investigation was concluded.

The police boss also disclosed that two among four suspected kidnappers that abducted one Hassan Taiye in his mosque in Chikanda in Baruten Local Government Area of the state had been arrested.

He said two of the suspects were dressed in army uniform when they kidnapped the victim and took him to an unknown destination after injuring his vigilante guard with a gunshot.