A COMBINED team of the Nigerian Army and men of the Nigerian Police Force have eliminated no fewer than seven bandits reportedly responsible for the seath of the Emir of Kontagora’s son.
It was gathered that Lt. Colonel T.O. Olukukun, the Commanding Officer of the 311 Artillery Regiment, and Police Commander Haruna Adamu Swapo led their troops from different axes yesterday in a coordinated operation to a dense forest on the outskirts of the town.
The bandits were fleeing after they invaded the farm of Mai Sudan (Emir) of Kontagora at Masuga village, and killed Prince Bashir Namaska, a son of the Emir on Thursday.
However, a battalion of ground troops and policemen, deployed for a ‘swift response operation’, pursued the bandits to a thick forest, before they shot and neutralized some of them.
The rest, however, escaped with gunshot injuries.
One of the injured bandits captured by troops who later died could neither speak Hausa nor English, but Fulfulde, a foreign dialect, it was learnt.
“It is really disheartening to hear about the death of Bashir, especially at a time when intense military operations are ongoing in some parts of the state to rid the state of criminal elements,” Governor Abubakar Bello had said
“As painful as the death is, the situation will only spur my administration to ensure that the fight against banditry in the state is won,” the governor said.”
Namaska was the Sardauna of Kontagora and had been standing in for his sick father, the Sarkin Sudan, for some months.
The deceased was said to have been shot and later rushed to the hospital where he was confirmed dead on arrival.
Bello, however, described the death of the prince as heart-breaking and devastating and condoled with the emir and the people of Kontagora Emirate over the loss.
“My deepest condolence goes to the Emir and the people of Kontagora Emirate as this is indeed a great loss, but we should all be consoled by the fact that it is a necessary end for all mortals,” Bello said.
