A combined team of the Nigeria Police Force’s ‘Operation Puff Adder’ and that of the Nigerian Army’s ‘Operation Thunder Strike’ has foiled a kidnap attempt by suspected bandits along the Abuja-Kaduna highway on Sunday.

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The security team also killed one of the bandits terrorising travellers along the highway.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Mohammed Jalige, who disclosed this in a statement on Monday, said the bandits were intercepted at the area where an exchange of fire ensued.

The encounter, he said, forced the bandits to retreat into the forest with gun wounds while one bandit was neutralised by the gallant troops.

Jalige also said upon the search of the general area, an AK47 rifle and nine bandits’ operational motorcycles were recovered.

He said, “The dividend of the renewed vigour and purposeful synergy between the Police and the Military in Kaduna State came to the fore yet again on Monday 13th June 2022 at about 0255hrs when the combined team of Police Operation Puff Adder and that of the Nigerian Army Operation Thunder Strike, while on routine patrol along Kaduna-Abuja Highway at Sabon Sara had an encounter with armed bandits’ who were on their nefarious mission along the busy highway.

“The marauding bandits were intercepted at the above mentioned point where exchange of fire ensued as a result of which the…forces succeeded in truncating the bandits mission forcing them to retreat into the forest as one bandit was neutralised.

“Upon search of the general area, an AK47 rifle and nine bandits’ operational motorcycles were recovered, while the high-spirited operatives are not resting on their oars in ensuring the safety of motorists and other legitimate road users.”

The statement said the State Commissioner of Police, Yekini Ayoku, was highly elated with the commitment and gallantry exhibited by the combined team and assured them that their sacrifices towards ensuring public safety would not go unrewarded