Africa Today News, New York had reported on Tuesday that bandits had attacked passengers along Kaduna-Abuja road, wounded three passengers, and abducted several others.
Confirming the incident in a statement on Thursday, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Muhammed Jalige said the State Commissioner of Police, CP Yekini A. Ayoku and Kaduna Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, who conducted on-the-spot visit to the scene on Wednesday, expressed sadness over the incident.
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According to him, “at about 1610hrs, the Kaduna Police Command was in receipt of a distress call that armed bandits in large number, wielding sophisticated weapons have compromised the Kaduna–Abuja road, between St. Peters and Audu Ogbe farm, Kateri village and were firing indiscriminately on commuters in their desperate bid to commit atrocity against unsuspecting road users.”
He said on getting the information, the Command immediately mobilized the available manpower and logistics to the area in effort to counter the marauding armed bandits
According to him, the move was swift as the operatives engaged the bandits in a fierce gun duel, which forced the criminals to retreat into the bush, adding that the quick response by the security forces aided in reducing causality.
According to him, the attack left three (3) persons with varying degrees of bullet wounds and were evacuated by the operatives to hospital for proper treatment, adding that five vehicles were also recovered from the scene
According to him, although the number of victims abducted is yet to be ascertained, the CP promised to redouble the efforts to build on the recent safety being enjoyed by road users. He also ordered for immediate and thorough investigation of the immediate and remote causes of the security breach resulting in the unfortunate incident.
He urged members of the public not to be deterred by the setback as the Command was not leaving any stone unturned to guarantee safety of road users and forestall future occurrence.