The Police officers recently kidnapped have regained their freedom. They were reported abducted on the 8th of November on their way to Zamfara from Maiduguri.
A statement on Friday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba said that 2 of the officers are currently hospitalised while the others are being debriefed.
Mr Mba described the kidnapping as an opportunistic crime and not targeted specifically at men of the police force.
Read: The officers were kidnapped by gunmen
The abductors had demanded N100 million ransom on their captives. It is however, not mentioned if the ransom was paid before releasing the captives.
The statement by the Police Force:
“The Nigeria Police have successfully rescued nine Police Officers who earlier went missing on 8th November, 2020 between Kankara town and Sheme in Katsina State after the night commercial bus they were travelling came under attack by heavily armed men, all dressed in military camouflage, but suspected to be bandits.
“The Officers, all Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASPs), were on their way to Gusau in Zamfara State from Maiduguri at the time of the incident.
“Two of the officers are currently receiving medical attention in a hospital while the remaining seven are being debriefed.
“Covert operation to locate and rescue the officers commenced immediately they were discovered missing en-route to their destination. Thus the apparent delay in commenting on the unfortunate incident was a deliberate decision aimed at protecting the integrity and confidentiality of the rescue operation and the concomitant safety of officers.
“It is also important to state that preliminary investigation has shown that the attack on the vehicle was an opportunistic crime as the officers were all travelling in mufti, unarmed and alongside other private citizens in the commercial vehicle.
“The total number of officers involved in the incident is nine (9) and not twelve (12) as previously, wrongly reported in some sections of the media.
“Follow-up investigation into the incident is still ongoing.
“Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, IGP M A Adamu, NPM mni, reassures Nigerians that the Force is working assiduously to ensure an improved safety and tactical presence of police personnel on our highways as the yuletide approaches.”