Troops of Operation Thunder Strike (OPTS), a Defence Headquarters outfit, and Operation Puff Adder of the Nigeria Police on Friday cleared blockage at Kurmin Kare area of Kaduna-Abuja road by suspected gunmen.
Confirming the report Kaduna State Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan said security agencies manning the area had not confirmed kidnapping of scores of citizens as reported by a social media enthusiast on Kaduna-Abuja road to the state government.
Aruwan said the State Government, known for publicizing security developments, would certainly make public feedback received by the military and police as soon as the agencies reverted.
He said at 3:30pm, the Security Operations Room, a 24-hour hub, started receiving distress calls of a blockage around Kurmin Kare area of Kaduna-Abuja Road and immediately, contact was established with the Commanding Officer of Operation Thunder Strike (OPTS), a Defence Headquarters outfit, and Operation Puff Adder of the Nigeria Police for immediate counter action.
Aruwan said that the troops and the police operatives swiftly moved to the general area, saw motorists stranded on both lanes, and subsequently cleared the road.
He said the operatives after clearing the accumulated traffic saw one Honda car with Reg. No. RBC 864BL recovered with broken rear windscreen and another vehicle found empty with some luggage.
The Commissioner said from preliminary findings, the occupant or occupants might have been unaccounted for.
He said beside the Honda vehicle, five citizens Rifkatu Yohanna, Rukayya Umar, Hauwa Jibrin, Juliana John, Yahaya Aliyu and Babangida Lawan ‘M’ (Driver) hidden in the forest appeared with their driver who confirmed they were complete, having escaped in the commotion.
Aruwan added that as of 9:40pm on Friday, the status of the occupant(s) of the Honda could not be substantiated, and the veracity of the report that scores were kidnapped could not be confirmed.
He said the public would be briefed as soon as the State Government received operational feedback.
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