Hijab-Wearing Gunmen Kidnap Two in Niger as Soldiers Kill Bandit Leader in Kogi
Two people have been abducted by gunmen disguised in hijabs in the Melehe community of Kontagora, Niger State.
The abduction, which occurred on Friday night, eyewitness saw the armed men successfully infiltrate a residence by pretending to be ordinary women before abducting a junior secondary school principal and another female resident.
The Niger State Police Command spokesman, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, said on Sunday that the command was aware of the report and investigating has begun on the incident.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army, on Sunday, announced the killing of a notorious bandit leader, Kachalla Balla, and five members of his gang in Kogi State. The successful operation, which took place on September 5, followed a fierce gun battle at a bandits’ hideout.
Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations for 12 Brigade, Lt. Hassan Abdullahi, confirmed the development in a statement on Sunday.
The Army also confirmed that during a separate clearance operation on September 3, troops rescued a kidnapped man and his two children.
On the same day, troops, in collaboration with Other Hybrid Forces, ambushed a logistics courier at Agbede–Adankoo Bridge, recovering a motorcycle, mobile phones, and an AK-47 magazine loaded with 20 rounds.
Additional clearance operations were carried out between September 2 and 3 in Ankomi, Aleke, Ungwan Soni, and Ungwan Nyaba communities, where fleeing bandits were engaged.
One man, Pabo Suleiman, and his two children were rescued, while five locally made dane guns were recovered.
Commander of 12 Brigade and Force Commander of Operation Accord III, Brig. Gen. Kasim Sidi was said to have personally led troops further into bandits’ enclaves, destroying several settlements and boosting troop morale.
The military has reiterated its commitment to sustaining pressure on bandits and other criminal elements to restore lasting peace and security across Kogi and its adjoining states.
Two people have been abducted by gunmen disguised in hijabs in the Melehe community of Kontagora, Niger State.
The abduction, which occurred on Friday night, eyewitness saw the armed men successfully infiltrate a residence by pretending to be ordinary women before abducting a junior secondary school principal and another female resident.
The Niger State Police Command spokesman, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, said on Sunday that the command was aware of the report and investigating has begun on the incident.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army, on Sunday, announced the killing of a notorious bandit leader, Kachalla Balla, and five members of his gang in Kogi State. The successful operation, which took place on September 5, followed a fierce gun battle at a bandits’ hideout.
Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations for 12 Brigade, Lt. Hassan Abdullahi, confirmed the development in a statement on Sunday.
The Army also confirmed that during a separate clearance operation on September 3, troops rescued a kidnapped man and his two children.
On the same day, troops, in collaboration with Other Hybrid Forces, ambushed a logistics courier at Agbede–Adankoo Bridge, recovering a motorcycle, mobile phones, and an AK-47 magazine loaded with 20 rounds.
Additional clearance operations were carried out between September 2 and 3 in Ankomi, Aleke, Ungwan Soni, and Ungwan Nyaba communities, where fleeing bandits were engaged.
One man, Pabo Suleiman, and his two children were rescued, while five locally made dane guns were recovered.
Commander of 12 Brigade and Force Commander of Operation Accord III, Brig. Gen. Kasim Sidi was said to have personally led troops further into bandits’ enclaves, destroying several settlements and boosting troop morale.
The military has reiterated its commitment to sustaining pressure on bandits and other criminal elements to restore lasting peace and security across Kogi and its adjoining states.