Two persons have been abducted in Niger State by gunmen who disguised themselves in hijab, even as troops of the Nigerian Army neutralised a notorious bandit leader and several of his fighters in Kogi State.
The kidnap incident occurred on Friday night in Melehe community, Kontagora Local Government Area of Niger State, when the armed men stormed the residence of a junior secondary school principal.
“By the time they removed their hijabs around 11 p.m., they forced their way into the house and abducted the principal and a Fulani woman identified as Aminu Runtoje,” a resident said, adding that the attack happened quietly before the community realised what was going on.
The Niger State Police Command spokesman, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, said on Sunday that the command was aware of the report and would verify the incident before reacting.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army, on Sunday, announced the killing of a notorious bandit leader, Kachalla Balla, and five members of his gang in Kogi State.
Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations for 12 Brigade, Lt. Hassan Abdullahi, confirmed the development in a statement on Sunday.
He explained that the breakthrough was recorded during Operation Egwua, a Tite II, launched on September 1, to rid Kogi and surrounding areas of banditry and criminality.
“On September 5, during a fierce gun battle at a bandits’ hideout ahead of Tunga, intelligence confirmed that Kachalla Balla, a notorious bandit commander, and five others were neutralised,” the statement read.
On the same day, troops, in collaboration with Other Hybrid Forces, ambushed a logistics courier at Agbede–Adankoo Bridge, recovering a motorcycle, mobile phones, and an AK-47 magazine loaded with 20 rounds.
Additional clearance operations were carried out between September 2 and 3 in Ankomi, Aleke, Ungwan Soni, and Ungwan Nyaba communities, where fleeing bandits were engaged.
One man, Pabo Suleiman, and his two children were rescued, while five locally made dane guns were recovered.
Commander of 12 Brigade and Force Commander of Operation Accord III, Brig. Gen. Kasim Sidi was said to have personally led troops further into bandits’ enclaves, destroying several settlements and boosting troop morale.
The Army reiterated its commitment to sustain pressure on bandits and restore lasting peace across Kogi and adjoining states.
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