New Telegraph

Residents flee as soldiers engage bandits in Kaduna community

Residents of Sabon Tasha GRA, in the Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna State, were unable to sleep in the early hours of Saturday as bandits in their numbers invaded the community shooting sporadically.

 

However, the bandits met a stiff opposition from soldiers who responded to a distress call from the area and engaged them in a gun battle. The gun duel was said to have lasted for hours from about 12:30 am to 2:30 am.

 

The bandits were alleged to have targeted a resident who moved into the community recently, but met the house empty and in the process set the house ablaze. They were said to have moved to another location within the community after ransacking the house and setting it on fire, where they kidnapped three persons including a pregnant woman.

 

However luck was not on their side as soldiers responding to a distress call swoop on them and a gun battle ensued. After hours of engagement, the bandits were forced to abandon their victims and fled the area. Among those kidnapped was a pregnant woman who was said to have been injured in the cross fire and presently receiving treatment in the hospital.

 

While the ensuing gun battle lasted, some residents who were afraid for their lives had run out of their homes into nearby communities, hoping that the bandits will not find their way there.

 

Sources in the community also told our correspondent that the attack was coming barely 24 hours after kidnappers invaded part of the community called Ungwan Bulus and kidnapped a man, his wife and daughter.

 

The source noted that they have not heard from them since they were carried away into the bush before this fresh attack. Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Police Command has confirmed the incident, saying that “In the early hours of December 11, 2021 at about 0105hrs, the Kaduna Police Command, through Divisional Police Officer Sabon Tasha Division, Kaduna acted on a distress call received from a good Samaritan to the fact that some suspected armed bandits numbering about 30 with some in military gears and bearing dangerous weapons, were making ferocious effort to break into a residential area at Sabo GRA in Chikun LGA of the State in an attempt to commit heinous crime.”

Spokesman of the command, ASP Mohammed Jalige said, “On receiving the distress call, Operatives were immediately mobilised with the support of other security agents to the scene with a view to thwart the bandit’s intention. The criminals on sensing the presence of security agents, started shooting indiscriminately.

 

“The Operatives did not hesitate in returning fire for fire and succeeded in foiling the attempt. The criminals been frustrated by the Police and other security agents, set the resident on fire and flee for their lives.”

 

The police also disclosed that “unfortunately, it was discovered that the bandits operated simultaneously with one at oil village in the same Sabo Location where they kidnapped a woman and her four children to an unknown destination.

 

“Investigation into the two incidences has since commenced while effort is ongoing to facilitate safe rescue of the victims of the other sad incident,” Jalige said.

Read Previous

Omicron: Mixed fortunes for business jet owners amid UK travel ban

Read Next

FCTA battles traffic gridlock on Nyanya-Aya Road

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *