Operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), in an aggressive gun duel against a notorious kidnap gang, have thwarted the kidnapping of an officer of the Nigerian Customs Service, his wife, and others at the Bukan-Ari area along Kurikyo Road in Lafia, Nassarawa State.

The national spokesman of the Corps, Afolabi Babawale, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.

The statement quoted the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Boss, Commandant AS Dandaura, as saying, “In a 5-hour intelligence-based coordinated operation, my men alongside the Nassarawa State Commandant foiled a kidnap attempt on two residents of the Bukan-Ari area along Kurikyo Road in the Lafia metropolis.”

“The success made in this operation hinged on the use of modern technology in gathering intelligence and other credible intelligence available about the notorious gang terrorising the peace of Lafia metropolis and some parts of the state.

“They met their waterloo while attempting to kidnap a Customs officer; the wife and one other person (name withheld)”.

“The CG’s Special Intelligence Squad engaged the kidnappers and subdued them due to superior and intense fire power, which resulted in the arrest of two kidnappers, the other two were neutralised, while one escaped with severe injuries from gunshots and made away with an AK-47 rifle.”

According to the statement, items recovered included one AK-47 assault rifle, one magazine, 40 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition, 5 different types of mobile phones, two knives, and some substances suspected to be charms.

The suspects arrested are 23-year-old Hassan Ibrahim from Azare Local Government of Bauchi State, and 30-year-old Ibrahim Hudu, while Mata and Yahaya Abubakar were the two killed during the exchange of gunfire. (DAILY TRUST)