The Kaduna Police Command says it killed one bandit and arrested five others on Monday during an attempted kidnap in Zaria.

“On September 27, the command received a distress call through the divisional police officer in Zaria City that some bandits in large numbers invaded the residence of one person at Nagoya Quarters in a desperate attempt to kidnap the occupant of the house.

“On getting the information, a team of policemen alongside members of vigilante services led by the DPO rushed to the area and engaged the bandits in a gun duel.

“As a result, one bandit was neutralised, while others abandoned their mission and took to their heels with bullet wounds,” the police spokesperson, Mohammed Jalige, said.

He said the bandit’s corpse had been deposited at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Teaching Hospital, Shika.

Mr Jalige urged the public to report any person with a suspected bullet injury to the nearest police formation for prompt action. 

The spokesman also revealed that its operatives arrested five suspected kidnappers in the early hours of Sunday.

He said on September 26, at about 3:00 a.m., an 18-seater bus was conveying suspected rustled cows heading to a yet to be identified destination along Barde–Keffi Road.

“Based on the information, operatives of the command attached to the Kafanchan division swung into action and intercepted the said vehicle and arrested the five suspects.

“Among the suspects arrested is a notorious kidnapper who has been on the command’s wanted list, and the 13 rustled cows were recovered from him,” he said.

Mr Jalige said the suspects confessed to the crime while the owner of the cows was identified from Uddah Village, and the cattle were handed over to him.