By Our Reporter
The Nigerian Police authorities have alerted the public on imminent threats of abduction of boarding schools children in Kaura Namoda, Zamfara state and neighbouring states by suspected kidnappers.
The alert came from the office of the Inspector General of Police, IGP in a statement from Force Headquarters to the affected state Commands, including Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi and Kastina states.
It said the police authorities have uncovered imminent plans by notorious bandits to kidnap and hold hostage, students of boarding schools, especially in Kaura Namoda in Zamfara and the neighbouring states.
The statement signed by the Principal Staff Officer to the IGP, Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji R. Disu emphasized that the planned attacks were coordinated efforts by the hoodlums, with an intention to negotiate the release of their members arrested by the military recently.
The statement also revealed that, the terrorists led by one Gwaska Dankrami had prepared to launch dangerous attacks on identified targets very soon.
The police authorities explained that the bandits had planned that, upon the successful outcome of their operation, the hoodlums would call for release of their members who were apprehended recently on their return from Hajj by the military, including Gwaska’s mother.
The statement added that, part of the strategies by the terrorists led by Gwaska and his members was to coerce unsuspecting residents of Zurmi, Danmagaji and Kaura communities in the state to carry out a protest calling for the release of their members.
The police authorities said that the primary reason the bandits wanted to take the students hostage in particular was to ensure financial gain for ransom taking and negotiation for the release of the terrorists who were in detention, while the planned attack was intended to generate wide publicity and ensure international condemnation.
CP Olatunji Disu warned of the consequences of such attacks by notorious bandits, noting that it is capable of undermining national security.
He said that under the circumstance, the police authorities recognize the need to be proactive in order to thwart the planned attacks
The statement issued on July 14, disclosed that, as a way of safeguarding lives and properties, the Inspector General of Police has directed that all the affected state commands to put measures in place to ward off any plan that could lead to the breach of peace, while also emphasizing the need for the formations to liaise with the intelligence unit of the police force, the military, as well as other relevant security agencies, to provide adequate security to all possible targets in the affected areas.
