The police have neutralized three kidnappers in a gun battle, recovered two AK 74 riffles and 49 rounds of live ammunition in Magama local government area of Niger state.
The police Command’s Special Task Team (STT), FID STS with vigilante members were said to have carried out a clearance operation within Kokolo forest via Kawo-Auna village from where the team encountered the bandits in gun battle.
However the hoodlums reportedly strike again in Mashegu Local Government Area of the state on Monday during which a commissioner of the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission ( NSIEC) and a former Chairman of the Niger State Universal Basic Education Board ( SUBEB ) were abducted.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun has confirmed the incidents adding that the encountered occurred on September 12, 2025 at about 6.30 am.
He said, “During this operation, which took place in the early hours of the day, the team stormed the forest, encountered the hoodlums and engaged them in a gun battle. Fortunately, three among the suspected kidnappers were neutralised and others escaped into the forest with gunshot injuries, while a victim was rescued”.
He explained that in the process of combing the hideout, two AK-74 rifles with forty-nine ammunition were recovered, adding that further investigation is ongoing to arrest the fleeing members of the gang.
He appealed to members of the public, most especially neighbouring villages to quickly inform the Police and other security agencies, if anyone is found around with gunshot injuries.
It was learnt that the bandits in their numbers abducted scores including Commissioner 7 of the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission, Ahmed Mohammed, popularly known as Barrister Ahmed Lawyer, his driver and former SUBEB Chairman, Mohammed Bawa Niworu.
The incident occurred on Monday morning around the Ibbi National Park along Zugurma-Ibbi to New Bussa road in Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State.
The victims were said to be returning from Borgu when the incident occurred while a passersby later spotted their vehicle parked by the roadside with victims mobile phones left behind in the vehicle.
According to witness account, “the armed men blocked road ahead police nipping point.
After the attacked along Ibbi-New Bussa road, the Police tactical team engaged and repelled the hoodlums”.
It was gatheredthat a policeman sustained gunshot injury and was taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.
