The police command in Kaduna State said its operatives foiled a kidnap attempt and recovered an AK-47 rifle and operational motorcycles of the suspected kidnappers.

The command’s police public relations officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, confirmed the development in a statement on Tuesday in Kaduna.

Mr Hassan said, “The commissioner of police (CP), Mr Audu Ali, has yet again stressed that criminal elements will have no breeding ground in the state.”

He explained that the police boss’ stand came owing to the foiling of bandits’ kidnap attempt and the recovery of firearms by the command’s operatives.

According to him, the incident occurred at about 7:30 p.m. on February 15, when the bandits in large numbers blocked the Tumburku – Galadimawa road in Giwa Local Government in the state and were indiscriminately shooting in an attempt to kidnap motorists.

“The daunting situation drew the attention of a detachment of the Operation Whirl Punch, which responded to the clarion call to action.

”That resulted in a fierce gun duel with the bandits who succumbed to the operatives’ superior tactics and retreated into the nearby bush with many having bullet wounds.

“Subsequently, the operatives combed and recovered from the scene of the crossfire an AK47 rifle, three AK47 magazines, five rounds of 7.62 x 39mm live ammunition, a Techno mobile phone and two Bajaj make motorcycles,” he said.

Mr Hassan said that order had since been restored in the area as patrols intensified.

He urged the public in that axis to be on the lookout for any suspicious character nursing gunshot injury and report the same to the nearest police outfit.

Mr Hassan said the CP hailed the bravery of the men of Operation Whirl Punch and tasked them to raise the stakes in the fight against banditry in the State.

(NAN)