Police Rescue Nine, Repel Bandits’ Attack on Jos-Kano Highway

The Kano State Police Command has rescued nine passengers following a gun duel with suspected bandits who attacked a commercial bus along the Jos-Kano highway in Doguwa Local Government Area.

The command said three passengers are still in captivity, while one victim escaped from the abductors.

According to a statement issued on Monday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Kiyawa, the incident occurred at about 5:30 p.m. on Saturday along the Folgore Forest axis between Gate Two Safer Highway and Dogo Dutse.

He explained that five armed men, wielding machetes and a firearm, intercepted a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number BKK 6824 XA travelling from Jos to Kano and abducted 13 of the 20 passengers on board.

Kiyawa said the Divisional Police Officer in Doguwa immediately mobilised tactical operatives to the scene after receiving a distress call.

“The police team engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel, leading to the rescue of nine victims, while another male victim later escaped from captivity,” he said.

He added that the rescued passengers were taken to Doguwa General Hospital for medical evaluation and are currently in stable condition.

The police spokesman said the command had deployed additional tactical teams and intensified intelligence-driven operations to rescue the remaining victims and arrest the fleeing suspects.

He quoted the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Bakori, as commending residents and motorists for providing timely information that aided the prompt response.

Bakori assured residents that the command remained committed to protecting lives and property and urged members of the public to continue reporting suspicious movements to the nearest police station or through the command’s emergency lines. The police said investigations into the incident are ongoing.