The Bauchi State Police Command has begun a rescue operation to free two traditional rulers kidnapped by bandits in the state on June 10 and 11 respectively.
The village heads Alh Saleh Hussain and Idris Mai Unguwa were abducted when the bandits invaded Balma community and Mai Anguwan Bakutunbe community in Ningi Local Government Area.
A businessman, Haruna Dan OC was killed in Balma while one Ya’u Gandu Maliya was also abducted in Mai Bakutunbe.
Spokesman for the police in the state, SP Mohammed Wakil, said the officers of the command are combing through the bushes and creeks to ensure the victims are released in due time.
“Presently, the police in Ningi Division are combing the bush trying to see how they can rescue the two abducted village heads alive,” the PPRO stated.
“The suspected gunmen shot sporadically and took away the village head, Alh Hussaini Saleh, who is 48 years old, to an unknown destination. Then the second village head was also abducted.
“One Haruna Jibrin was shot in the head by the gunmen. When the police received the distress call, a team of policemen was drafted to the scene, they rescued the victim and rushed him to the General Hospital, where Ningi was receiving treatment. He was later confirmed dead by a medical examiner.”
Narrating how the victims were kidnapped, the Acting Chairman of Ningi Local Government, Ibrahim Zubairu, said the ruler of Balma was sitting with people in his palace in Balma when the gunmen numbering about 3 came to his palace before whisking him away.
According to him, Alhaji Haruna, was on his motorcycle going home when he was double-crossed and shot by the gunmen.
