While traveling from Kebbi State to Asaba, Delta State, a commercial driver named Emeka was sadly assassinated by suspected kidnappers who kidnapped five other passengers.
It was understood that the regrettable incident between Kwana-Barau and Kundu village in Niger State occurred over the weekend.
In a statement released yesterday, the state police command disclosed that the attacker ambushed the car, a Toyota registered LND 863 YF, shot Emeka dead, and then captured four other occupants.
The command announced that 19 passengers who had been abducted while traveling from Sokoto to Bayelsa had been successfully rescued in a different operation.
On November 1, 2024, these people were abducted while riding in a Toyota bus registered LG 08 DGS. They were stopped on the Tegina-Zungeru route in Niger State and taken into a nearby woodland in the meantime.
In a statement released on Monday, Niger State Police Command spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun acknowledged the incidences and emphasized that the victims in both cases were retrieved uninjured.
According to reports, on November 3, 2024, at around six in the morning, suspected kidnappers attacked a car with the license plate LND 863 YF that was traveling from Yawuri in Kebbi State to Asaba in Delta State.
“The incident occurred between Kwana-Barau and Kundu village, resulting in the unfortunate death of the driver, Emeka, and the abduction of five individuals,” Abiodun said.
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The police spokesperson went on to say that a joint security tactical squad quickly responded and searched the Rafi Local Government Area’s Kattako forest.
“Efforts are underway to secure the release of the remaining victim still in captivity, and four of the abducted passengers were rescued unharmed,” he continued.
Abiodun described how the joint security forces’ tremendous pressure resulted in the safe rescue of all 19 passengers who had been kidnapped during the Sokoto-Bayelsa trip.
“Security operatives pursued the kidnappers immediately after the November 1 attack, which resulted in the recovery of twelve victims on November 2 in the Pangugari forest, Rafi LGA,” he continued, adding that additional operations later that evening resulted in the rescue of the final seven victims, bringing the total number of rescued to 19.
“On November 3, the victims were safely brought back to Sokoto after receiving medical attention at a nearby clinic,” Abiodun revealed.
