POLICE CONFIRM ABDUCTION OF KEBBI DEPUTY SPEAKER, BEGIN RESCUE OPERATION. (PHOTO).

 Police confirm abduction of Kebbi deputy speaker, begin rescue operation

The Kebbi State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of the Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Alhaji Muhammad Sama’ila-Bagudo, by suspected bandits in Bagudo Local Government Area of the state.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Nafi’u Abubakar, made the disclosure in a statement issued in Birnin Kebbi on Saturday.

Abubakar said the incident occurred on Friday night at about 8:20 p.m., when a gang of armed men stormed Bagudo town and kidnapped the lawmaker shortly after observing Isha’i prayer on his way home.

PUNCH Online had reported late Friday that the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ahmed Idris, said he had just received the information when contacted by our correspondent.

The police spokesman said that the command had since deployed a combined team of police tactical unit, military personnel and vigilantes to track down the abductors and ensure safe rescue of the deputy speaker.

“The joint team is currently combing the bandits’ routes and nearby forests with a view to rescuing the lawmaker unhurt and arresting the perpetrators of the dastardly act,” Abubakar said.

He added that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Bello Sani, had reiterated the command’s determination to protect the lives and property of residents across the state.

“The CP has also appealed to members of the public to remain vigilant and continue to support the police and other security agencies to ensure peace and stability in the state,” the PPRO pleaded.

PUNCH Online reports that the abductors had yet to announce their demands, while the state government had not issued any formal statement on the incident or its latest developments.

(NAN)