Police Kill 2 Bandit Kingpins, Rescue Victims In Abuja

Police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) yesterday announced the killing of a wanted bandit leader, Abdullahi Umar (alias Duna) and his lieutenant, Buba Ahmadi (alias killer) and Habi Sule (alias Maikudi) after a gun duel.

Two vigilante members were wounded in the  process and one of them, Bako Pwaza, later died at the National Hospital, Abuja.

The commissioner of police, Ajao Adewale, disclosed this to journalists at the command’s headquarters.

He said on Monday, the command received a report of hoodlums attacking Kpobi and Kpaduma 3 villages in Guzape area of the FCT.

The attackers attempted to kidnap two young women, but failed due to a coordinated response team led by himself, the deputy commissioner of police in charge of operations, the Rapid Response Squad commander and other officers, leading to the rescue of the women.

He said on Wednesday, the same group of bandits struck again at Karu, where one Nafiu Idris, a member of staff of the Federal Capital Territory Authority, Department of Urban Affairs, was abducted.

But the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit, in synergy with the Guards Brigade of the Nigerian Army, operatives of the Department of State Services, hunters and vigilantes launched a clearance operation which paid off on Thursday when the security operatives stormed the bandits’ hideout in Zinda Forest, behind the Nigerian Army Estate in Kurudu, bordering Nasarawa State.

The commissioner added that the gang engaged the operatives in a fierce gun battle.

He said, “Our team overpowered them. Three of the notorious criminals, including their wanted leader, Abdullahi Umar and his lieutenants, Buba Ahmadi and Habi Sule were neutralized.”

Two AK-49 rifles with breach numbers 1983 NK 2202 and 1975 SW0924, two magazines with seven rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, two Itel handsets, ATM cards and other items were seized from them.

He added that investigation revealed that the gang leader, Duna, was responsible for multiple kidnappings in Karu, Guzape, Kpobi, Army Estate Kurudu and several locations in Nasarawa State.