THE deployment of the Operation Absolute Sanity personnel by Ibrahim K. Idris, inspector general of Police, IGP, to tackle the cases of kidnappings on Abuja-Kaduna Highway appears to be yielding positive results.

After the arrest and parade of 32 suspected kidnappers and their caches of arms and ammunition on July 31, 2017 at Kateri on Abuja-Kaduna Highway, further efforts intensified by the Police personnel of Operation Absolute Sanity in the last few days resulted in the arrest of additional 40 suspects and recovery of large caches of arms and ammunition, and other exhibits listed above in Rijanah area and other locations along Abuja-Kaduna Highway. The identified kidnappers’ dens, hideouts, camps and other black spots in the forest along Abuja-Kaduna Highway were stormed and raided by the personnel of Operation Absolute Sanity within the last few days and in the process three victims (names withheld) were rescued unhurt from the gangs  without payment of any ransom, and they have been reunited with their families.

Some of the victims have identified most of the suspects as the people that kidnapped them.

All the suspects confessed to the crime and admitted to the various criminal roles they played in the commission of the crimes.  They will all be arraigned in court on completion of investigation

The operation, comprises Special Police Force, Police Mobile Force, Counter Terrorism Squad, Anti-Kidnapping Units, Intelligence Response Team, Special Tactical Squad, the Force Intelligence Branch with Headquarters at Rijanah, Kaduna State. The Joint Police Team are under strict mandate to rout out the kidnap for ransom gangs and armed robbery gangs that have been terrorizing the Abuja-Kaduna Highway in the recent times. The operation is to complement and augment the on-going Joint Police/Military operations on the ground.

In any case, the IGP has expressed deep appreciation and gratitude to the communities and people in the towns and villages along Abuja –Kaduna Highway for their cooperation and support being given to the Police personnel deployed in the Operation Absolute Sanity that led to so many successes in the ongoing operations.

He also implored travellers and other road users to support the Police personnel in the discharge of their responsibilities.

Aug 14, 2017 @ 01:00 GMT