Suspected bandits shot dead a police officer as men of the force successfully foiled an attempted abduction of family members of the incumbent chairman of Bwari area council of the FCT, John Gabaya at his country home, Tokulo community in the area council.
Confirming media reports and a sad new instalment to kidnap incidents in the FCT, an aide to the council chairman, who pleaded for anonymity, citing security reasons, said the incident happened on Sunday. The aide gave the confirmation on Tuesday to newsmen and gave credence to the substance of earlier reports.
The aide said the suspected bandits invaded Tokulo community through the Kaduna Forest wielding dangerous and sophisticated weapons like AK-47 rifles, engaged the vigilantes guarding the chairman’s private residence in a fierce gun battle.
He said as the exchange of the gun battle raged, the police team from Bwari division were alerted, and they immediately mobilized forces to the community and engaged the bandits in a shootout.
According to him, one of the bandits shot and killed one of the police officers during cross fire, saying the police officers repelled the attack, with heavy firepower, forcing the bandits to flee the community with no kidnap victims.
The spokeswoman of the FCT police command, SP Adeh Josephine, also confirmed the incident and assured the wider FCT community of the forces’ readiness and willingness to protect lives and properties.
