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\nBy Bose
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\nThe police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has rescued a kidnap victim after a 30-minute of gun duel with a group of kidnappers in the Guzape area of Abuja.
\nThe Commissioner of Police (CP) in the FCT, Mr Ajao Adewale said at news conference on Friday in Abuja that the rescue operation was part of a raid of the area between Sept. 15 and Sept. 18.
\nHe said the operation that led to the rescue of the victim was a life-threatening battle that involved 30 minutes of heavy gun duel between police operatives and the hoodlums.
\nAdewale said two members of the vigilante group were injured in the attack on Sept. 15.
\nHe said one of the injured later died at the National Hospital, Abuja.
\nAccording to the CP, the attackers had also attempted to kidnap two young ladies, who were rescued through a coordinated response operation led by him.
\nHe said others involved in the operation were the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, the Rapid Response Squad Commander, and other officers.
\n\u201cOn Sept. 17, at about 10:32 p.m., the same group of bandits struck again at Karu, where one Nafiu Idris, a staff of the FCTA\u2019s Department of Urban Affairs was abducted.
\n\u201cActing swiftly, the command Anti-Kidnapping Unit, in synergy with the Guards Brigade of the Nigerian Army, DSS operatives, Hunters, and Vigilantes, launched a clearance operation.
\n\u201cOn Sept. 18, at about 7:00 a.m., the bandits\u2019 hideout was traced to Zinda Forest, behind the Nigerian Army Estate in Kurudu, bordering Nasarawa State.
\n\u201cThe gang engaged our operatives in a fierce gun battle, but our team overpowered them and three of the notorious criminals were neutralised,\u201d he said.
\nThe CP said investigation revealed that the neutralised gang leader had been responsible for multiple kidnappings in Karu, Guzape, Kpobi, Army Estate, Kurudu, and several locations in Nasarawa State.
\nHe said the gang\u2019s planned attempt to kidnap a resident of Federal Housing Estate, Karu on Sept. 18 was successfully foiled.
\nAdewale said the command\u2019s proactive anti-kidnapping and anti-banditry patrols were ongoing across border communities and identified hotspots.
\nThe CP said the items recovered from the gang were two AK-49 rifles, two magazines with seven rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition and two Itel handsets.
\nAccording to him, other items recovered are two ATM cards, two lighters, assorted charms and animal horns as well as cash sum of N10,000.
\nMeanwhile, CP said the command\u2019s Anti-Narcotics Unit had recorded \u00a0remarkable progress in the fight against drug trafficking and abuse.
\nHe said 11 notorious drug dealers were arrested in coordinated raids across identified drug black spots in the FCT.
\nAccording to him, a total of 68 bags of substances suspected to be cannabis and other illicit drugs were recovered.
\nAdewale said the arrests were critical in disrupting criminal supply chains, reduction in the rate of drug-fueled crimes, and keeping of harmful substances away from communities. (NAN)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"