UPDATED: Kidnapped police officers regain freedom

The police said two of the officers are currently receiving medical attention.

By Our Editor

The Nigerian Police have announced the rescue of its 9 police officers recently kidnapped along Katsina – Zamfara road.

The force spokesperson, Frank Mba, made the announcement in a statement on Friday evening made available to newsmen .

He said two of the officers are currently receiving medical attention and nine officers were kidnapped in total and not 12 as earlier reported.

The police spokesperson said the force had been on a covert operation, hence their deliberate silence on the matter.

“The Nigeria Police have successfully rescued Nine (9) Police Officers who earlier went missing on 8th November, 2020 between Kankara town and Sheme in Katsina State after the night commercial bus they were travelling in came under attack by heavily armed men, all dressed in Military Camouflage, but suspected to be bandits.”

“The officers, all Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs), were on their way to Gusau in Zamfara State from Maiduguri at the time of the incident. Two of the officers are currently receiving medical attention in a hospital, while the remaining seven are being debriefed.”

“Covert operation to locate and rescue the officers commenced immediately they were discovered missing en-route to their destination. Thus, the apparent delay in commenting on the unfortunate incident was a deliberate decision aimed at protecting the integrity and confidentiality of the rescue operation and the concomitant safety of the officers.”

He said the preliminary investigation has shown that the attack on the vehicle was an opportunistic crime as the officers were all travelling in mufti, unarmed and alongside other private citizens in the commercial vehicle.

 “Follow-up investigation into the incident is still ongoing. Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni reassures Nigerians that the Force is working assiduously to ensure an improved safety and tactical presence of police personnel on our highways as the yuletide approaches,” he said.

The police however did not indicate if the kidnappers were arrested or not.

EAGLE EYE WATCH had reported the incident of the kidnap which took place over a week ago.

The officers were said to have been on their way to Zamfara from Borno State to carry out a special assignment.

The kidnappers earlier demanded N800,000 for each of the officers to be released.