Troops rescue nine passengers as gunmen attack bus in Kaduna

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says troops of operation Safe Haven have rescued nine passengers abducted in Kaduna state.

Benard Onyeuko, DHQ spokesman, said this in a statement on Tuesday.

According to him, troops responded to a distress call of an attack on a bus in Dogon Filli village, Jema’a LGA of Kaduna state on July 9, and rescued the nine passengers “who were held hostage”.

He said in another operation, troops raided Mailafia, Nisama, Dogon Filli and Gidan Waya, also in Jema’a LGA, during which two persons were arrested over their alleged involvement in robbery.

According to the statement, the suspects were identified as “George Yakubu and George Joseph, aged 26 and 25 years, respectively”.

“Items recovered from the suspects include; 3 x Fabricated AK-47 Rifles, 1 x Knife, 1 x Cutting Hoe, 1 x Cutter and 1 x Spanner, amongst others,” the statement reads.

According to the DHQ spokesman, in yet another series of operations on July 7 and 8 in Plateau sate, troops arrested two suspects for kidnapping, identified as “Abdulrazaq Umar and Idris Abdullahi”.

They were said to have been arrested at Beco junction in Heipang district, Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau state.

“Suspects confessed to have carried out several kidnapping activities within Plateau and Bauchi States, including the murder of Alhaji Saleh Abdulhamid (Shaba) at Ex Land Village on 22 Jun 22,” the statement reads.

“Suspects further revealed one Mallam Buhari Umar as the leader of the gang.

“However, while en route the criminals hideout, suspects attempted to escape and were neutralised.”