Eight suspected bandits have been arrested in Mariri community of Lere local government area of Kaduna State.
The state’s commissioner for internal security and home affairs, Samuel Aruwan disclosed this in a statement he issued yesterday in Kaduna.
According to the report from the security agencies, the arrests were the result of sustained intelligence gathering in which troops of “Operation Safe Haven” acted on the credible intelligence and arrested members of a kidnap syndicate.
He gave the names of those arrested as Musa Adamu, Abdullahi Usman, Suleiman Hasidu, Usman Jibril, Saidu Isah, Hassan Abdulhamid and Idris Sani.
Meanwhile, he said one Hajiya Bilkisu, a suspected accomplice who had been housing the arrested persons, was lynched by members of the community as she tried to escape.
In Kogi State, two suspected kidnappers have been killed during a gun battle with security operatives in Idah local government area.
Two others however escaped with bullet wounds.
An English pistol, locally-made pistols, several rounds of ammunition and other dangerous weapons were recovered from the kidnappers.
While confirming the incident, the council chairman, Hon. Abuh Odoma, said with the support received from Governor Yahaya Bello they have continued to record victories over the criminals.
In his reaction, the security adviser to the governor, Commodore Jerry Omodara (rtd) stressed the need for continued vigilance by the citizens particularly those in the rural communities.