Police, Boko Haram exchange gunfire in Kano

THERE was an exchange of gunfire between policemen from Kano police command and a remnant group of Boko Haram in Kano, on Sunday.

The Boko Haram remnants were intercepted at Gaya, Unogo Local Government Area of the state, while they were about to move to attack public centres, places of worship and other places where people gathered to carry out their means of livelihood.

The police team came under attack of the group and they were repelled.

In the process, the police team, which had been on the trail of the remnant of Boko Haram group in various locations in Kano and environs for some time, was able to arrest five suspects – three male and two females.

Three police operatives, however, sustained injuries from the improvised explosive devices and gunshots aimed at them by the group.

They are currently receiving treatment in the hospital.

One Boko Haram suspect, who was confirmed to be a dismissed Air Force Officer, was also among those who engaged the police in gun battle in the state.

Rabiu Yusuf, commissioner of police in the state, disclosed this to reporters on Sunday.

Yusuf said the dismissed officer escaped with gunshot wounds.

“One of the suspected terrorists, who was confirmed to be a dismissed Air Force Officer, now at large, threw at the police, with three of them (suspects) sustaining various degrees of injury.

“The hideout of the suspected terrorists was raided by a combined team of the police Anti-Robbery Squad, the Special Tactical Force and undercover operatives of the command at Gayawa Village in Ungogo Local Government Area of the state.

“He said items recovered from the terrorists included military uniforms, AK-47 rifle, portraits bearing their faces and black masks.

Five suspects were later arrested. The police commissioner said they were nabbed at a hideout where they were plotting an attack.

The suspects paraded by the police were Abba Muhammad of Niger republic, (20); Usman A. Buhari (23) from Borno State and Illiasu Abdullahi (46) of Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State.

Two “heavily pregnant” women were also arrested. They are Aisha Yau (25) and Ladidi Yunusa (27) both of Kwarna hudu quarters in Nassarawa Local Government Area of Kano State.

He said the raid was successfully carried out after obtaining a credible intelligence report which led to the arrest of the suspects.