The New Experience Newspapers Online News Indepth, Analysis and More
Operation Puff Ader in Kaduna State has reportedly killed a suspected kidnap kingpin and armed robber, Sumaila Sule, aka SHAHO, who recently masterminded the abduction of the state Chairman of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) along the Abuja-Kaduna road.
Sule, who hails from Rijana village in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, is one of the most wanted kidnappers who has been terrorising Kaduna and its environs.
He died from multiple bullet wounds following a shootout with police operatives attached to Operation Puff Adder on Friday, May 17, 2019 on the outskirts of Rijana village.
The police operatives, in line with Operation Puff Adder mandate, were carrying out routine surveillance and raid of suspected criminal hideouts, when they suddenly came under gunfire from a heavily armed criminal gang.
But the police team fought back gallantly, repelling the attack and eventually wasting Sule, while his gang members fled. Sule was rushed to hospital where he died the next day.
However, acting on intelligence report from the suspect before his death, police operatives, between May 18 and May 19, 2019, carried out follow-up operations at different target locations leading to the arrest of four other members of the gang and recovery of three AK 47 rifles.
The suspected gang members are, Muusa Hassan (26), Yau Umar (25), Umar Musa (22) and Muhammad Sani (28), all males and natives of Rijiana Village Kachia Council of Kaduna State.
Also, a combined team of Operation Puff Adder operatives, comprising of the IGP Response Team, the Technical Intelligence Unit, the Police Mobile Force and Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) have arrested another set of kidnappers who have been terrorizing citizens at Mubi axis of Adamawa State.
The team recovered one AK 47 rifle and 26 rounds of live ammunition from the gang.
The arrested suspects who have confessed to various armed robbery operations are, Umaru Ibrahim native of Yadi Buni, Yobe State; Abdul Maina from Maiha, Adamawa State and Mohammed Abubakar from Buni Yadi Yobe State.
Meanwhile, SARS of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have demolished a structure suspected to be kidnappers hideout at Ekpri Nsukara village in Uyo Local Government Area.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Odiko MacDon, disclosed that the hideout was discovered on Friday, May 17, 2019 when SARS operatives rescued Gassan Naser and killed three of the hoodlums.
Naser, who is Site Manager of Zenith Construction Company at Mbiaya, in Uruan Local Government Area, was abducted on April 30, while a police sergeant attached to him, Mohammed Sarba, was killed.
MacDon said the Police got approval from Governor Udom Emmanuel to demolish the hideout the same day Naser was rescued and three of the hoodlums killed.
Senior Special Assistant on Security Matters, Iniobong Ekong and Media Aide to the governor, Nduesso Essien witnessed the demolition last Friday.
