Kidnappers abduct businessman, burn down police van in Kano

Armed kidnappers on Wednesday abducted a businessman in Minjibir town, about 50 kilometres from Kano city.

The gunmen stormed the town around 1 am, shooting sporadically around Masaka area of the town before abducting a businessman, Abdullahi Kalos.

Witnesses told DAILY NIGERIAN that the gunmen also attacked policemen and burnt down their patrol van.

“I first heard a gunshot around 1:30 am, then the gunshots continued. Through my window, I then I saw policemen returning the fire,” a witness who preferred anonymity told DAILY NIGERIAN.

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“The gunmen stationed their men at all the junctions in the town. I suspected they have superior firepower as the police later backed down.

“Around 4:20 am, they attacked policemen laying ambush on them near Amsharu Primary School. In the police van, there was the DPO himself in the vehicle alongside his team.

“When the police retreated, the gunmen set fire on their patrol vehicle and left the town without further challenge.”

Another witness told DAILY NIGERIAN that the gunmen came in a Hilux van, three Volkswagen Sharon and many motorcycles.

A source also told Solacebase on Wednesday that the kidnappers numbering over 30 overpowered the policemen that led to them fleeing and abandoning their vehicle.

The source also said reinforcement from police in Kano did not come in good time as the gunmen had a field day.

”The abducted businessman is well known in the town as merchant of building materials and foodstuffs,” said the source.

“They left their vehicles at Plantation area, and moved on foot,” said the witness.

Several calls by Solacebase to Kano Command Police Spokesman  Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa indicated he was in a meeting as he promised to call back soonest.