Air Training Command Parades 10 Suspected Bandits, Vows To Secure Area Of Responsibility In Kaduna

Air Training Command Parades 10 Suspected Bandits, Vows To Secure Area Of Responsibility In Kaduna

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in Kaduna has vowed to secure its Area of Responsibility (AOR) in order to ensure peace in the State.

This was disclosed by the Air Officer Commanding Air Training Command (AOC ATC), Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Suleiman, at the Command Headquarters while parading 10 suspected thugs and bandits to the press today, 19 February 2019.

Speaking during the press briefing, the AOC ATC, represented by the Commander 453 Base Services Group (BSG) NAF Kaduna, Air Commodore Idi Sani, stated that, following the directives of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, to provide support to the Nigeria Police for the peaceful conduct of the 2019 general elections, a Patrol Team from the 453 BSG, at about 2.45 am on 16 February 2019, intercepted 7 suspected thugs/bandits armed with dangerous weapons around the Hajj Camp, Mando.

The suspects are Abdullahi Adam, Halilu Rilwan, Lawal Hassan, Idris Yusuf, Kabir Muhammed, Badamasi Alhassan and Idris Abubakar. Items recovered from the thugs, who claimed to be members of a vigilante group, include 8 dane guns, 3 cutlasses and a Volkswagen Golf 3 car without a plate number.

He also disclosed that 3 other suspects were arrested during the same period. One Mr Abdulrauf Yusuf (AKA GORILLA FIGHTER), was arrested, in company of Mr Muhammad Bello, in a Volkswagen Golf 3 car with Registration Number EG 181 ABS Abuja, around NECO Junction, Mando on 16 February 2019 at about 2.30 am.

Furthermore, Mr Shehu Yahaya, was arrested at Amana Kasuwa on 15 February 2019 at about 11.45 pm with 5 machetes and a knife. Air Commodore Sani also reported that on 2 February 2019, the NAF Special Operations Team, tasked with dealing with kidnapping, cattle rustling and armed banditry, had intercepted a group of cattle rustlers at Riyawa Forest. He noted that, in the face of superior fire power from the NAF Team, the cattle rustlers abandoned 44 cows and 13 rams they had rustled.

The 10 suspects were handed over to the Police while the animals were handed over to the Kaduna State Government for further action.

The AOC emphasized that the NAF, working in synergy with other security agencies, would continue to dominate its AOR with aggressive patrols in order to ensure peace and security throughout Kaduna State so that law abiding citizens can go about their legitimate businesses without hindrance. Fielding questions from the press, the Coordinator of Operation YAKI, AIG Mohammed Muktar Abbas (Rtd), who received the animals on behalf of the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, thanked the NAF for always assisting the Police in ensuring that citizen of the State live in an environment devoid of fear.

He therefore commended the NAF for providing aid to civil authority in Kaduna State. Also present at the occasion was Superintendent Surajo Daura, who represented the Commissioner of Police Kaduna State.