Olayinka Ilori/
Twenty-seven victims including five Chinese have been rescued by the police, says the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba.
According to Mba, 545 suspected kidnappers and armed robbers have been arrested by the police since January 2019 with 105 assorted weapons plus a large cache of ammunition recovered.
Mba made the revelation in a statement announcing new strategies being adopted by the acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu to combat heinous crimes.
The statement says, “In continuation of the efforts of the Nigeria Police Force to speedily bring to an end the current internal security challenges being experienced in some parts of the Country, the Inspector General of Police, Ag. IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni has today, 9th May, 2019 rolled out new Counter-Kidnapping operational strategies.
“The new strategies, which are purposeful and intelligence-driven are targeted at identifying, locating and dismantling kidnapping gangs across the nation and bringing the kidnappers and their collaborators to justice. It is designed to complement and strengthen the ‘Operation Puff Adder’ currently going on in several states of the Federation.
“The operation will involve the deployment of undercover operatives, decoy operations and high-level tactical missions with active participation of operatives drawn from the conventional Police Units, the Force Intelligence Unit, the Special Anti-Robbery Squads (SARS), the Special Anti-kidnapping Squads and the Police Tactical Units comprising the Police Mobile Force (PMF), the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) and the Special Forces.
“Meanwhile, Police operatives from ‘Operation Puff Adder’ have rescued unhurt 27 kidnap victims including 5 Chinese nationals. The Chinese citizens who were earlier kidnapped on 15th April, 2019 in Bobi, Niger State were safely and successfully rescued on 5th of May, 2019 from a forest in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State, following painstaking investigative efforts, including both air and ground surveillance. Two of the kidnappers died from injuries sustained during exchange of gun fire with the Police in the course of the rescue mission. Twenty-two other kidnap victims were rescued in Zamfara State and other parts of the country.
“In addition, between January 2019 and the first week of May 2019, a total of 270 suspected kidnappers were arrested, 275 suspected armed robbers were arrested and 105 assorted weapons plus a large cache of ammunition recovered.”
While commending the general public for their understanding and supports so far, the IGP reassured Nigerians that the end to violent crimes and other sundry criminal activities is in sight.
He pledged that the Force under his leadership would continue to work with other relevant stakeholders in the task of making Nigeria safer and better.
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