By Yusuf Adua
Bauchi state Police Command hampered an attempt by armed bandits to abduct a resident of Tilde village in Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State on Tuesday night, SP Ahmed Wakili, spokesman of the police made this disclosure.
Wakili told the News Agency of Nigeria yesterday that the five bandits had earlier, at around 10pm, matched out to the medicine store of one Alhaji Tasiu Abdulkareem and demanded money.
“The gunmen were not satisfied with what he gave them and wanted to take him away, but he refused to oblige them”, the spokesman said.
He added that the bandits engaged him in a struggle and later shot him in the chest.
“The police received a distress call through the DPO in Toro that at about 11pm that unknown gunmen had stormed a medicine store and shot the owner in the chest.”
According to the PPRO, the victim was later taken to Toro General Hospital, where he was certified dead by the doctors.
On the foiled abduction, Wakili revealed that the DPO received another distress call around 1am on Wednesday that the same armed bandits had invaded the residence of another person in the same Tilde village and tried to vandalise his door.
“On getting information on the incident”, he added that ” combined operatives were immediately mobilised to the area and engaged the bandits in a fierce exchange of fire”.
“The bandits succumbed to the superior and tactical firepower of the Police, forcing them to flee.
”The bandits escaped with bullet wounds on their bodies.”
The rescued victim, who pleaded that his identity should not be made public, told NAN that the bandits tried to break his door, but in the process the police arrived, chased them away and stayed with the household until 6am.
“The police responded promptly to our call and saved the situation,: the victim said, explaining that no one was hurt in the house and “we appreciate their activeness.
“I am also calling on the general public and community leaders to support the security agencies with information and other necessary tips on the activities of bandits.”
Wakil urged communities to promptly report any incidents or suspicious situations and work closely with security agents to ensure the safety of lives and property in the polity.
