By Desire Emmanuel
The Gombe State Police Command on Sunday, January 25, gave details of how some bandits invaded a village, killed a 70-year-old man and abducted his two sons.
The command added that the marauders also went to another village where they abducted three men before some of them were killed during rescue operation by the operatives.
It was gathered that on Saturday, around 2:00 a.m., the command got information that bandits invaded Rahama Village via Gagarabami in Pindiga District, Akko Local Government Area, where they shot and killed the septuagenarian, whose name was given as Tela Bello Ahmadu and abducted his two sons, Saleh Tela and Abdullahi Tela.
Subsequently, around 3:30 a.m., the same group of bandits stormed Lambo Village in the same district and abducted three men, Babayo Garba, Malam Abba Musa and Baayo Bayi.
After receiving the information, police tactical teams under Operation Hattara, in collaboration with hunters and vigilante groups, mobilised and engaged the bandits in a gun duel.
During the gun duel, one of those abducted, Baayo Bayi, was caught in the crossfire and killed while Babayo Garba and Malam Abba Musa were rescued.
Three of the bandits were said to have been shot dead while others escaped into the forest with the remaining victims, abandoning their arms and ammunition.
According to the command in a statement on Sunday, items recovered after the gun duel included two AK-47 rifles, four magazines, 68 rounds of live bullets, 120 empty bullet shells and four motorcycles.
The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination, while efforts are being intensified to arrest the fleeing bandits and rescue the remaining victims.
