Police foil attempted kidnap of two sisters in Kaduna

Govt bans street protests, processions

Security operatives of the Kaduna Police Command yesterday rescued two sisters from kidnappers near Shika village in Zaria local council of the state. The Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Mukhtar Aliyu, said the officers acted on intelligent report and swung into action in a mid-night operation that foiled the kidnap attempt.

Aliyu said the suspected kidnappers, numbering about 30 had invaded the home of their victims last Sunday about 1:30a.m.“When we were informed, we acted swiftly. The police rushed down to the area combatant and engaged the kidnappers in gun battle. We overpowered them and they ran away.

“The action of the police is a testimony that the command is ever ready for such and other criminal activities,” Aliyu added.He explained that although there was no death recorded during the incident, but a policeman sustained gunshot injuries and is recuperating at the Ahmadu Bello Teaching Hospital in Shika.

However, as the sisters escaped unhurt, their father, Mustapha Gali, who sustained gunshot injuries in the operation, died on Monday morning.He said none of the kidnappers has been arrested, but that the state police command has put all machineries on motion towards tracking them down.He appealed to residents in the state to avail the police of necessary information that could lead to the whereabouts of the criminals.

Meanwhile, the Kaduna State government has cautioned the people that the ban on street protests and processions in parts of the state was still in force, saying individuals or groups who violate the law would be prosecuted.

Members of the State Security Council, after theirmeeting yesterday, stated that the Council is being reinvigorated as part of efforts to protect public safety, and safeguard the lives and property of citizens.

The Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to the governor, Samuel Aruwan in a statement after the council meeting, said that the Security Council has also warned that individuals and groups who violate the ban would be prosecuted accordingly.

“Kaduna State Security Council wishes to reiterate that the ban on street protest and procession is still in force. The ban was placed to protect lives and property and to also the breakdown of law and order by conflict entrepreneurs,” the statement added.