Officers of the Nigeria Police Force, in collaboration with a vigilante group in Taraba State, have killed five bandits who had been terrorizing parts of the state.
This operation followed an attack on Komi village in Ardo-Kola Local Government Area, where kidnappers abducted four villagers the previous night. In response, the village’s vigilante group alerted the police, leading to a joint effort to confront the criminals.
Taraba State Commissioner of Police, David Iloyonomon, shared details of the operation. He explained that the kidnappers attempted to ambush the security team during the pursuit, but the superior firepower of the police forced them to retreat.
As the pursuit intensified, the kidnappers abandoned two of their victims and fled further into the bush. A tactical shift by the security operatives eventually led to the rescue of the remaining two captives.
“At the end of the encounter, five kidnappers were neutralized, and all four hostages were safely rescued,” Iloyonomon stated.
He added that two of the victims had been injured by their captors but are now receiving treatment at a medical facility in Iware village and are recovering well.
One of the bandits killed during the operation had previously been arrested, charged, and released, only to return to kidnapping before meeting his end in this encounter.
“We remain steadfast in our mission to eradicate kidnapping and other criminal activities from Taraba State,” Iloyonomon affirmed. “We have revamped our strategies to ensure that criminals do not have free rein in the state.”
The Commissioner emphasized that the police rely heavily on intelligence from various security agencies, which has been instrumental in their crime-fighting efforts.
Iloyonomon also highlighted his recent working visits to different divisions across local councils. These visits are part of an initiative to strengthen the collaboration between the police, professional hunters, and vigilante groups, ensuring effective coordination and adherence to the rule of law in safeguarding lives and property.
“The vigilante groups and professional hunters have proven to be crucial to our security apparatus, and their support continues to enhance our operations,” the Commissioner concluded.