By SUNDAY JOHN

The Police Command in Nasarawa State says it has neutralised a suspected kidnapper operating on Nasarawa-Keffi highway.

The command`s Police Public Relations Officer, Ramhan Nansel, stated this in a statement on Thursday in Lafia.

Nansel said that on Wednesday, the command received a distress call that some hoodlums had blocked the Nasarawa-Keffi highway to kidnap unsuspecting road users.

“Our personnel in collaboration with the military swiftly went to the scene of the operation.

“On sighting the joint operatives, the criminals opened fire and a gun duel ensued and in the process, one of the hoodlums was fatally wounded and apprehended.

“On realising that one of them had been shut, the others abandoned their mission and scampered for safety due to the superior fire power of the joint security forces.

“The wounded kidnapper was rushed to the General Hospital, Nasarawa, in Nasarawa Local Government Area where he later died while receiving treatment.

“One Ak-47 rifle loaded with eleven rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition was recovered from the hoodlum,” he said.

Nansel said that findings revealed that the kidnappers had earlier stopped two sport utility vehicles in order to kidnap the occupants.

The spokesman said that the swift intervention of the joint security forces saved the situation.

He assured the public of the police commitment to ensuring the safety of all road users as well as residents of the state. (NAN)