Bandits kill two, abduct four in Gombe

The Gombe State Police Command has confirmed the gruesome murder of two persons and the abduction of four others in Pindiga, Akko Local Government Area of the state by armed bandits suspected to be kidnappers.

The confirmation was contained in a press release signed and issued by the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Buhari Abdullahi, and made available to journalists in Gombe on Sunday.

In the release, he stated: “The Gombe State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that on 28/12/2025, at about 0330 hours, a distress report was received at Pindiga Police Station, Akko Local Government Area, regarding a shooting and abduction incident.”

According to the report, unidentified armed men invaded the residence of their victims along the Pindiga–Kashere Road.

During the attack, the assailants shot and killed Yusuf Mohammed, aged 31, and Faiza Mohammed, aged 28. They also abducted Zainab Mohammed Yusuf, aged 16, all of the same address.

The armed men further proceeded to the residence of Alhaji Yayaji Abdullahi, where they abducted his wife and two children, namely: Summai Alhaji Yayaji, aged 35; Al’amin Alhaji Yayaji, aged 11; and Fatima Abdullahi, aged 14, all of the same address.

The two gunshot victims were immediately rushed to the Cottage Hospital, Pindiga, but were unfortunately confirmed dead by a medical doctor.

A visit to the scene by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, alongside a team of senior officers, led to the recovery of six empty AK-47 shells and one live round of ammunition.

Following the incident, tactical and intelligence-led operations were immediately intensified in the area.

Consequently, hunters and local vigilante groups were mobilised, while concerted efforts are ongoing to rescue the abducted victims and apprehend the perpetrators of the crime.

The Gombe State Police Command strongly condemned the criminal act and assured members of the public that all necessary measures are being taken to bring those responsible to justice.

Members of the public were urged to remain calm and continue to support the police with credible and timely information that may aid the ongoing investigation.

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The command assured residents that further developments would be communicated as they unfold.

Meanwhile, Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has condemned in the strongest terms the gruesome murder of two innocent citizens, Yusuf Daddy and his sister, Faiza, in Pindiga town of Akko Local Government Area in the early hours of Saturday.

The governor described the attack as barbaric, cruel, and utterly unacceptable, noting that four other persons were reportedly abducted during the incident.

He said the killing of innocent citizens in their homes, alongside the abduction of women and children, is a heinous crime that deeply offends humanity and threatens the peace and security Gombe State has worked hard to sustain.

According to him, “This dastardly act is a direct assault on our collective conscience and a painful test of our resolve to protect lives and property. The government and people of Gombe State share in the grief and anguish of the affected families and the entire Pindiga community.”

He assured that the crime would not go unchecked, disclosing that the Nigeria Police and other security agencies had commenced intensive investigations into the killings and abductions.

The governor directed that all necessary resources be deployed to track down the perpetrators, rescue the abducted victims unharmed, and bring all those involved to justice.

Reiterating his administration’s firm commitment to security, Inuwa Yahaya warned criminals and their collaborators that Gombe State would not serve as a haven for them.

He added that security operations would be intensified, intelligence gathering strengthened, and collaboration with communities deepened.

The governor urged residents to remain calm, vigilant, and cooperative with security agencies, assuring the people of Pindiga and the entire state that the government stands firmly with them and will take decisive measures to ensure peace and safety.

He extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and the Pindiga Emirate, and prayed that Almighty Allah grants them strength and fortitude to bear the immense loss.

He also prayed for the safe and speedy rescue of those abducted, according to a statement by Ismaila Uba Misilli, Director-General (Press Affairs), Government House, Gombe.