The Kaduna State Police Command has rescued three kidnapped victims and dislodged a suspected bandits’ hideout in Makarfi Local Government Area. The operation followed credible intelligence received on 21 August about suspicious movements around Gidan Mijin Gwaggo, Durum.
The Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Muhammad, directed the Divisional Police Officer of Makarfi Division to lead a patrol team, in collaboration with local vigilantes, to the area. The suspected kidnappers opened fire on sighting the security personnel, leading to a fierce gun duel. The suspects were forced to flee into the surrounding bushes with gunshot injuries.
A subsequent search of a house belonging to one Yakubu Sule revealed that the building was being used as a hideout by suspected bandits. Three kidnapped victims were found in the house and rescued unharmed. The victims included Alhaji Hamza Shuaibu-Gimi and two others. A Boxer motorcycle suspected to have been used by the kidnappers was also recovered from the premises. The rescued victims have been reunited with their families, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
The Commissioner of Police commended the police officers and local vigilantes for their prompt response and effective collaboration. He assured residents of Makarfi and the people of Kaduna State of the command’s continued commitment to intelligence-led policing and strengthened community partnerships.
The rescue operation is a small victory in the fight against kidnapping, but it is also a reminder of the scale of the problem. The collaboration between the police and local vigilantes was effective, but it should not have been necessary. The house used as a hideout suggests that the bandits had established a base in the community. The rescue of three victims is a success, but the fact that they were kidnapped in the first place is a failure.
The winners: the three rescued victims, who have been reunited with their families; and the police and vigilantes, who demonstrated effective collaboration. The losers: the fleeing suspects, who remain at large; and the Nigerian state, which has failed to prevent kidnapping.
Bottom Line: Three victims are free, but the bandits escaped. The police are committed. The question is whether the commitment will translate into lasting security.