Joint Security forces rescue FCTA staff, neutralise wanted bandit leader in FCT
By: Zagazola Makam
A Joint Security forces comprising of the Guards Brigade of the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Police Forces and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), has rescued a kidnapped civil servant and neutralised a notorious bandit kingpin, Abdullahi Umar, popularly known as “Duna”.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that breakthrough followed a string of violent incidents by the gang, including the killing of a vigilante member at Kpobi Village, Guzape, on Sept. 15, the kidnapping of two young women in Kpaduma 3 Village, and the abduction of a senior FCTA staff in Karu.
According to the sources, the bandits had, on Sept. 15 at about 9:15 p.m., ambushed vigilantes at a checkpoint along Kpobi Village road, during which two vigilantes sustained gunshot wounds. One of them, identified as Mr Bako Pwaza, later died at the National Hospital, Abuja.
On Sept. 17, at about 10:32 p.m., the same gang blocked the road along Bristol Academy axis, Karu, and kidnapped Mr Nafiu Idris, a Town Planning Officer with the Department of Urban Affairs, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
“In compliance with my directive, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit mobilised alongside personnel of the Guards Brigade, DSS, hunters and vigilantes. Acting on credible intelligence, the combined team traced the criminals’ hideout to Zinda Forest/Hills, behind Nigerian Army Estate, Kurudu, which borders Nasarawa State.
“On Sept. 18 at about 7:30 a.m., the bandits engaged the security team in a fierce gun battle. Three of them were neutralised on the spot, including their wanted leader, Abdullahi Umar, a.k.a. ‘Duna’, who had been on the Command’s radar for years,” the sources stated.
The sources disclosed that Idris, who had been held hostage for a ₦150 million ransom demand, was rescued unhurt. He was taken to Karu General Hospital for medical examination before being reunited with his family through the Divisional Police Officer, Karu.
Items recovered from the camp included two AK-49 rifles with breach numbers 1983 NK 2202 and 1975 SW0924, two magazines containing seven rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, two Itel handsets, Access Bank and Wema Bank ATM cards, charms, animal horns, two lighters and a cash sum of ₦10,000.
The sources said preliminary investigation revealed that “Duna” was the mastermind of several high-profile kidnappings and banditry operations in Karu, Guzape, Kpaduma, Army Estate Kurudu, and multiple cases in neighbouring Nasarawa State.
The sources added that the gang had planned another attack on Sept. 18 at about 10:00 p.m. in Federal Housing Estate, Karu, but the successful raid on their camp foiled the operation.
“The Command has intensified proactive anti-kidnapping and anti-banditry patrols across border communities and identified hotspots. The Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department (AKU-SCID) is leading the investigation,”said the sources.
