Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have foiled an armed robbery attempt alongside the Kaduna-Zaria freeway.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, the Command’s spokesman, Sani Garba, in Kaduna on Thursday defined that the incident passed off at about 3am on Sunday close to the company’s checkpoint near Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, Zaria.
Garba mentioned, “Operatives had been alerted after one of many motorists reportedly escaped from the suspected robbers and raised the alarm.”
He said that some armed robbers had blocked the freeway when one among their victims managed to flee and alerted their males stationed close by, stressing that their operatives instantly moved to the scene and engaged the suspects in a gun duel, forcing them to desert the operation and flee.
He mentioned the intervention prevented the suspected robbers from abducting motorists and different highway customers, as no abduction was recorded.
A video circulating on social media confirmed a number of automobiles, together with articulated vans, deserted alongside the freeway after the encounter.
Some of the vans had been seen with their engines working, whereas their drivers and different occupants had been apparently absent.
The footage additionally confirmed NDLEA operatives inspecting the automobiles and documenting the aftermath of the incident.
An officer talking in Hausa in the video mentioned the suspected robbers fled upon sighting the approaching NDLEA personnel, declaring that one other officer was heard directing colleagues to collect deserted belongings and convey them in a truck for restoration.
Garba assured motorists of the command’s dedication to supporting different safety businesses in defending lives and property, urging members of the general public to stay vigilant and promptly report suspicious actions to safety businesses.
He additionally referred to as on motorists to cooperate with safety personnel to enhance security alongside the freeway for individuals to go about their regular companies.
Also talking on the incident, a senior operative of the Kaduna Vigilance Service, who spoke to NAN in Zaria on situation of anonymity, defined that no person was kidnapped throughout the incident.
He said that occupants of the deserted automobiles had returned and continued their journeys after safety operatives intervened, including that the service had repelled greater than 5 separate assaults on the identical location alongside the freeway in October, stopping suspected criminals from finishing up their operations.
The Kaduna-Zaria freeway has recorded earlier assaults by armed teams, together with incidents of kidnapping and killing of travellers.
