The on Monday foiled a planned bandit attack at , Aleniboro, via in , neutralising two suspected members of the criminal group in a swift security operation.
The Command disclosed that the breakthrough followed actionable intelligence provided by a good Samaritan, whose timely information enabled operatives to pre-empt what authorities described as a potentially devastating nocturnal assault on the agrarian community.
In a statement issued in , the state capital, the Police Public Relations Officer, , said the informant alerted security personnel to the presence of about 10 armed Fulani men who had concealed themselves within a farm settlement in Elebe Village, allegedly plotting to strike under the cover of darkness.
According to the statement, tactical teams were immediately deployed to the area, where they encountered the suspects. A gun duel reportedly ensued, leading to the neutralisation of two members of the group, while others fled into surrounding bush paths.
Eyewitnesses in the area recounted that the suspected kidnappers, masked and heavily armed, had earlier been seen driving a vehicle without registration number plates. They were said to have fired sporadically into the air in an apparent attempt to instill fear among road users and passersby while positioning themselves for the planned attack.
Security sources indicated that the swift intervention of the police averted what could have resulted in significant casualties and property loss in the farming settlement and adjoining communities.
Ayanlade emphasised that the affected axis has since been secured, with reinforcement units maintaining a visible presence to reassure residents and deter any retaliatory action. He added that intensive bush-combing and surveillance operations are ongoing to track down the fleeing suspects and dismantle any remaining criminal network operating within the vicinity.
“The Command remains resolute in its commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state,” the statement read, noting that the operation underscored the importance of community-based intelligence in crime prevention and response.
The police further solicited sustained cooperation and timely information from members of the public, stressing that community support remains a critical pillar in the ongoing fight against banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes across .
Residents were urged to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements or activities to the nearest security formation, as the Command reaffirmed its zero-tolerance stance against criminal elements seeking to destabilise peaceful communities.
