Two persons and a bandit were killed in a shootout between the police and bandits on the Abuja-Kaduna highway on Thursday, the police command in Kaduna confirmed.

Police authorities say its operatives were able to foil the bandits’ attack and kill a notorious bandit after receiving a distress call.

“The command received a distress call at about 5:45 a.m that some bandits in large numbers blocked Kaduna-Abuja highway close to a bridge along Kasarami village and were shooting at motorists,” Mohammed Jalige, police spokesman in Kaduna narrates in a statement. “The command immediately mobilised personnel of Operation Puff Adder I at Rijana Nipping Point and they responded swiftly and engaged the bandits in a fierce gun duel.

“This resulted in the death of one of the bandits while others scampered into the forest with varying degrees of gun wounds.”

He added: “Unfortunately, a commercial driver and his conductor of a vehicle with Reg. No. Lagos KDR 602 XF were caught up in the crossfire and both lost their lives.”

Mr Jalige said the security risk level has been raised and all personnel at Nipping Points along the expressway have been placed on red alert to prevent any further attack.

He said in spite of the incident, motorists are now plying the road freely.

The command spokesman said that the corpse of the bandit would be profiled, while those of the driver and conductor have been deposited at St. Gerald Hospital in Kakuri Kaduna.

He appealed to residents to always give security agents timely information for proactive response.

(NAN).