Suspected female informant lynched, as troops arrest seven bandits in Kaduna

…Rescue infant, six others

By  Idibia Gabriel, Kaduna

A suspected female informant of bandits, one Hajiya Bilkisu, has been lynched while seven of the bandits terrorising Mariri community in Lere LGA of Kaduna state have been arrested by troops of Operation Safe Haven.

Similarly, troops have allegedly dislodged bandits camp and rescued six hostages including an infant, in Chikun LGA of the Kaduna during clearance operations ongoing across the state.

The information is contained in a statement on Kaduna State’s security update issued on Wednesday by the state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Arauwan.

Mr. Aruwan said the security agencies were able to arrest the suspected bandits as a result of sustained intelligence gathering by the security.

He added that the troops acted on the credible intelligence and arrested members of a kidnap syndicate identified as Musa Adamu, Abdullahi Usman, Suleiman Hasidu, Usman Jibril, Saidu Isah, Hassan Abdulhamid and ldris Sani respectively.

“One Hajiya Bilkisu, a suspected accomplice who had been housing the arrested persons, was unfortunately lynched by members of the community as she tried to escape.

“The Kaduna State Government noted the report with satisfaction, and commended the troops for their prompt action on credible intelligence gathered.”

The Government urged security agencies to ensure a thorough investigation of the suspects, and appealed to citizens to avoid all forms of jungle justice and to give security agencies the needed cooperation to work in line with the dictates of the law.

In a similar situation, troops of Operation Forest Sanity in the early hours of Tuesday reportedly carried out a raid and rescued operations in Kuriga and Manini communities of Chikun local government area, and in the process rescued six kidnapped citizens who were held at the location.

The statement reads in part: “Following the weekend break through, security forces have continued with clearance operations in identified bandit and terrorist enclaves around the state.

“From a recent operational feedback to the Kaduna State Government, troops of Operation Forest Sanity in the early hours of Tuesday carried out a raid and rescue operations in Kuriga and Manini communities of Chikun local government area.

“According to the report, the troops made contact and engaged bandits at the suspected enclave. After clearing the camp, the troops rescued six kidnapped citizens who were held at the location. Those rescued persons are Sahura Hamisu, Ramlatu Umar, Saudatu Ibrahim, Maryam Shittu, Fatima Shuaibu and Haj. Khadijah Mohammed along with her infant child. The rescued persons have been safely reunited with their families.”

Consequently, the State Government commended the troops, police personnel, intelligence operatives, vigilante members and other security forces for another successful round of operations.

The government appreciated the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Air Staff, the General Officer Commanding, 1 Division Nigerian Army, and the Director General, Department of State Services, for the ongoing wave of onslaughts against criminal enclaves, it stated.

The statement added that security forces will continue operations in the general area and other locations of interest across the state, and promised that further updates will be reported accordingly.