Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has thwarted several bandit attacks and rescued more than 200 children from human traffickers in a series of nationwide operations.
Gatekeepers News reports that Muyiwa Adejobi, the force spokesperson announced this in a statement on Monday.
Adejobi said operatives in Kogi state overpowered a group of bandits on January 18, killing one suspect and arresting four members of the gang.
He said the police recovered one AK-47 rifle, two magazines, 30 rounds of live ammunition, and two motorcycles from the bandits. Operatives of the force also intercepted suspected cattle thieves at Ruwan Doruwa village in Dutsinma LGA of Katsina state.
The spokesperson said police officers engaged the bandits in a gun duel that resulted in the death of seven members of the group.
The statement reads, “On January 18th 2025, police operatives attached to the Kogi state command got information of a group of armed bandits holding a strategic meeting for possible attack at a forest in Budon, Kogi State. Gallant operatives of the Command were mobilized and deployed to the scene.”
“Upon sighting the police operatives, the bandits engaged the police operatives in a fierce gun duel. Fortunately, the bandits were overpowered, with one bandit neutralized and 4 others arrested. The operatives also recovered 1 AK-47 rifle, 2 magazines, 30 rounds of live ammunition and 2 motorcycles.”
“Similarly, on the same January 18th 2025, a distress call was received at the Dutsinma divisional police headquarters, Katsina state that some suspected armed bandits, armed with dangerous weapons, were headed to attack Ruwan Doruwa village, Dutsinma LGA of the state.”
“Upon receipt of this call, police operatives in collaboration with other security agencies mobilized, intercepted the armed bandits and engaged them in a fierce gun battle ultimately leading to the neutralization of 7 of the bandits, with the rest of the gang fleeing and abandoning 109 livestock suspected to be rustled animals.”
Adejobi said the force also rescued at least 207 children in recent anti-trafficking operations nationwide, with several suspects arrested.
He said, “In a significant development, the Nigeria Police Force has escalated its initiatives to combat human trafficking and the operation of illegal baby factories, successfully rescuing more than 207 abducted children from suspected traffickers nationwide.”
“A significant breakthrough was achieved with the arrest of a syndicate involved in child abduction and trafficking by the Ondo State Police Command, following intelligence regarding a missing child at Okuta Elerin-NIa, Akure.”
“The operatives apprehended members of the syndicate, identified as Abosede Olanipekun ‘f’, Lukman Isiaka ‘m’, and Sabira Izuorah ‘f’, and rescued 14 children between the ages of 1 week – 7 years old.”
