Special Forces of Nigerian Navy serving at the Nigerian Navy School of Armament Technology (NNSAT), Kachi, Kaduna state have busted a kidnapping and armed robbery gang who have terrorized and kidnapped several citizens in Southern Kaduna, Benue and Niger states.
The dare-devil gangs are said to be responsible for killing of many of their victims who were unable to pay ransom money while also raping many female victims.
In the operation, the Naval operatives rescued 28 kidnapped victims from kidnappers dens while arresting some of the suspected kidnappers and others involved in crimes of cattle rustling and banditry in Kaduna State and environs.
The arrests of the kidnappers and rescue of the victims was confirmed by the Commandant of the Nigerian Navy School of Armament Technology, Kachia, Rear Admiral Tanko Yakubu Pani who handed the suspects to the Department of State Security (DSS) in Kaduna on Tuesday.
Rear Admiral Pani said, “Following continuous surveillance for over 4 months of some dangerous criminal syndicates operating in Kachia and other parts of the State, we were able to conduct simultaneous surgical operations to effect their arrest in various locations through effective intelligence network in various locations within the State.
“Some of them were caught in isolated forests where they were hibernating, while others were caught in hotels and their houses.
“The arrested criminals include Abubakar Duguri alias Kure, Saleh Magaji alias Bodori, Idris Iliyasu, Auwal Yahyah, Monore Abu. Others are Mohammed Wakili, Tanimu Ibrahim alias Sambo, Abdullahi Adamu alias Yellow and Umar Alhassan.
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“These criminals are responsible for various criminal activities such as kidnapping, armed banditry and cattle rustling in Kachia and other parts of the State. Various items were recovered from them which include weapons, motorbikes and military camouflage uniforms, amongst others, which they use for their operations.
‘Some of the victims of the criminals that were unable to meet their demands, were instantly killed while others were either maimed or injured.
“Also, some of the female victims were raped.”
Continuing Rear Admiral Pani said, “In line with the mandate of ‘Operation Yaki’, the Kaduna State Internal Security Operations, this morning, we are handing over the criminals to the Department of State Services for profiling and further investigation.
“We want to assure Nigerians that the Nigerian Navy will continue to do her best in collaboration with other security agencies to protect lives and properties of citizens of this nation.
“However, we appeal to members of the public and community leaders to assist with credible information about the disposition of criminals in their domain to enable us protect them better
“We want to further assure the populace that justice can be delayed but not denied as manifested in the arrest of these criminals.
“The public should not be intimidated by the threats of these criminals which are intended to discourage them from giving information to security agencies, as this is what the criminals aim to achieve by instilling fear in them.
“We must therefore work collectively to ensure that we put criminals out of business by denying them freedom of action.
“This is also a warning to all criminal elements operating within Kachia general area and in other parts of the State that the Nigerian Navy in collaboration with other security agencies is irrevocably committed to ridding the State of criminal elements no matter where they may be hiding.
“We Shall locate them and flush them out.”
END
