JUST-IN: Bandits Abduct Niger Electoral Commission Member, Ex-SUBEB Boss, Others

Unknown gunmen suspected to be bandits fleeing from Kwara State have abducted scores of passengers along Ibbi-Bussa on Mokwa-New Bussa road in Niger State.

LEADERSHIP gathered that among those abducted were the Commissioner 7 of the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC), Ahmed Mohammed, and Alhaji Bawa Niworo, a former chairman of the State Universal Education Board (NSUBEB).

It was gathered that scores of the passengers were abducted from many vehicles stopped at a forest near Ibbi in Mashegu local government area of the State late on Monday.

Confirming this to LEADERSHIP, the State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Wasiu Abiodun, said: “suspected armed men attacked the Police nipping point along Ibbi-Bussa road, the Police tactical team engaged and repelled the hoodlums, and in the process, the Police patrol vehicle was damaged with gunshots, while one of the Policemen sustained gunshot injury and he was taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.”

“Unfortunately, the fleeing armed men later blocked the road ahead of the Police nipping point, and abducted some passengers along the road from about three vehicles,” he added.

He stated that the Police Command has mobilised more tactical teams with other security agencies and vigilante members trailing the suspected kidnappers with a view to rescue the abducted victims and possible arrest of the hoodlums.

Meanwhile in another development, the PPRO said in continuation of the Police Command’s clearance operations in some identified suspected kidnappers’ hideouts, and based on intelligence received, the Command’s Special Task Team (STT), with vigilante members carried out a clearance operation within Kokolo forest via Kawo-Auna village, in Magama local government area.

He said: “During this operation, the team stormed the forest, encountered the hoodlums and engaged them in a gun battle. Fortunately, three among the suspected kidnappers were neutralised and others escaped into the forest with gunshot injuries, while a victim was rescued.”