The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on Friday claimed
the nine police officers abducted between Kankara
town and Sheme in Katsina State on November 8,
have been successfully rescued.
This was contained in a statement by the Force
Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba, made
available to Vanguard.
Narrating the event that led to the police officers
abduction, DCP Frank Mba said; “the night
commercial bus they were travelling in came under
attack by heavily armed men, all dressed in Military
Camouflage, but suspected to be bandits.”
Mba noted that; “The officers, all Assistant
Superintendents of Police (ASPs), were on their
way to Gusau in Zamfara State from Maiduguri at
the time of the incident.
“Two of the officers are currently receiving medical
attention in a hospital, while the remaining seven
are being debriefed.
“Covert operation to locate and rescue the officers
commenced immediately they were discovered
missing en-route to their destination.
“Thus, the apparent delay in commenting on the
unfortunate incident was adeliberate decision
aimed at protecting the integrity and confidentiality
of the rescue operation and the concomitant safety
of the officers.
“It is also important to state that preliminary
investigation has shown that the attack on the
vehicle was an opportunistic crime as the officers
were all travelling in mufti, unarmed and alongside
other private citizens in the commercial vehicle.
“The total number of officers involved in the
incident is nine (9) and not twelve (12) as
previously, wrongly reported in some sections of
the media.
“Follow-up investigation into the incident is still
ongoing. Meanwhile, the Inspector General of
Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni reassures
Nigerians that the Force is working assiduously to
ensure an improved safety and tactical presence of
police personnel on our highways as the yuletide
approaches.”
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