Insecurity: Police intercept five-man kidnapping syndicate, recover weapons

Operatives of the Nigerian Police Force have intercepted a five-man suspected kidnapping syndicate in Sokoto State.

The suspects were intercepted following an intelligence report along the Bondinga-Tambuwal highway en route to carry out their operation.

Following their arrests, the police recovered weapons including three AK-47s, 90 rounds of live ammunition, and three AK-47 magazines.

ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force Public Relations Officer disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

According to Adejobi, the success was recorded In continuation of the fight against armed bandits, criminals, and insecurity in Nigeria.

The statement partly reads: "The suspects are Abdullahi Ali, Aliyu Mohammed, Abdullahi Umar, Aliyu Abdullahi and Mohammed Anas all confessed to the crime and revealed they were on their way to Tambuwal for a kidnapping operation before being thwarted by the men of the Nigeria Police Force."

The force spokesperson added that the operatives of the police force equally engaged bandits in a gun duel on Wednesday at Gigane village of Sokoto State, killing scores.

He partly said: "Some suspected bandits were spotted close to Gigane Village, Sokoto State, and were immediately pursued by operatives of the State Tactical Team. 

"Upon contact, the bandits engaged the operatives in a fierce gun duel, and some of them were neutralized, while one GPMG rifle with six (6) live ammunition was recovered at the scene. 

"Efforts are intensified to locate other fleeing members of the gang and criminally minded elements in the state and cause them to face the wrath of the law."