Kidnapping: Police Launch ‘Operation Puff Adder’ on Kaduna-Abuja Expressway

Pat Stevens/

The Nigeria police has launched a special operation, codenamed: ‘Operation Puff Adder’, to flush out kidnappers from their hideouts on the Kaduna-Abuja expressway.

The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, led a combined team of police special forces to kickstart the operation today.

The team deployed in the operation comprises officers and men of the Intelligence Response Squad (IRT) led by Abba Kyari, a deputy commissioner of police, as well as men of Police Mobile Force, Anti-Terrorism Unit, CTU, STS and the Police Air Wing.

The decision followed the resurgence of criminal activities, particularly kidnapping, along the very important expressway.

Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, had led his security aides to confront and dislodge a gang of kidnappers, who laid a siege to the expressway and held travellers hostage for several hours on Wednesday.

The operation will be executed in collaboration with the Nigerian Armed Forces and the Department of State Services (DSS).

During the launch which took place at katari Bishin District, Abuja – Kaduna Expressway, the Acting IGP appealed for public support.

He said no police anywhere in the world, no matter how well-trained, equipped or motivated, can solely achieve its community security and safety mandate without the support of the community.

He called for the full support and cooperation of the civil populace, particularly, traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth associations, market bodies, cultural associations and professionals among others in the fight against criminals especially kidnappers, armed robbers, cattle rustlers amongst others.

The IGP also made a special appeal to drivers, commuters and indeed all citizens that may come in contact with Police officers deployed for the operation to cooperate with them and show understanding in the interest of public safety.

The IGP however, sounded a note of warning to persons who engage in criminal activities, especially along the Abuja – kaduna Expressway, to give-up their nefarious activities and embrace other legitimate means of livelihood or be prepared to face the full consequences of their actions.

The representative of the Village Head of katari, Bishin District, Kaduna State, Gambo G. Gambo commended the IGP for the launch of ‘Operation Puff Adder’ in the area.

Gambo noted that the operation has already begun to yield positive results with the arrest of five (5) armed criminals in the area on 4th April, 2019.

He thanked the IGP and enjoined the officers deployed to the area to ‘‘do good to the good and do bad to the bad’’.

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