Inspector General of Police.
By Marie-Therese Nanlong
Jos – One Police Inspector, one local vigilante and six suspected gunrunners on Monday lost their lives when the gunmen engaged the security agents in a gun battle at Bwai village, Pyem Chiefdom, Gindiri district, Mangu local government area of Plateau State.
It was gathered that the incident which occurred on Monday afternoon also left some of the fleeing suspects injured as the State Police Command has launched an investigation.
The Police Spokesman, ASP Gabriel Uba who confirmed the incident said, “On 23/08/2021 at about 1400hrs, the Command received credible information about the activity of a notorious syndicate of gunrunners at Kwoi Village, in Mangu LGA of the State. On receipt of the information, the IGP’s Intelligence Response Team (IRT) based in Mangu, Police Operatives attached to Mangu Division, STF and local vigilante were mobilized and swiftly raced to the area.
“On sighting the team, the hoodlums engaged them in a gun duel. But because of the tactical operational capability and superior gunfire of the Operatives, six of the hoodlums were neutralized while others fled with various degrees of bullets wounds. Exhibits recovered from them include three AK 47 Rifles with Breach Nos 868, 106076 and 123487.
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“Regrettably, one Insp. Abdulrahaman Isah who is the Commander IGP’s Intelligence Response Team based in Mangu and one Hassan Mohammed a local vigilante gallantly paid the supreme price. Investigation has since commenced and efforts are being intensified to arrest other fleeing members of the syndicate.”
Speaking about the same incident, the
Military Information Officer, Major Ishaku Takwa in statement in Jos stated, “On Monday 23, August 2021, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN (OPSH) successfully neutralised syndicate of six criminals that specialise in kidnapping innocent people in Mangu local government area of Plateau State.
“The troops also recovered weapons belonging to the Nigerian Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) from the bandits. The troops in a joint operations with the Divisional Police Headquarters at Mangu responded swiftly to a distress call from the IRT that bandits had attacked the team and taken away their weapons. The criminals were immediately trailed and neutralised after a gun duel with the troops.
“Remains of the IRT members who lost their lives and that of the 6 criminal gangs were recovered. The troops also recovered 3 AK 47 rifles belonging to IRT team earlier taken away by the criminals. Commending the troops for their swift response, the Commander Operation SAFE HAVEN, Major General Ibrahim Ali has charged the troops to continue the collaborative efforts and sustain the tempo until criminal elements are wiped out of plateau state.
“He further directed the troops to dominate all suspected criminal hideouts and deny them freedom of action and also called on citizens to continue to collaborate with troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN and always provide the Operation with credible security information.”
