A member of the Anti-Kidnap Unit of the Nigeria Police Force has been kidnapped by gunmen in the Mayo-Belwa Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
The abduction of the mobile policeman attached to operation Farauta occurred on Christmas day, the police authorities in Yola, confirmed to The PUNCH.
Operation Farauta is a joint team comprising of police, soldiers and local hunters formed in Adamawa State to arrest the rising spate of kidnapping, activities of the dreaded Shilla Boys and other violent crimes.
Sources from the community, allegedly claimed the mobile policeman attached to the anti-kidnap unit, may have been, kidnapped in error, after the gunmen mistook him, for their target – a rich man in the Tike area of the council.
The kidnapped policeman had been deployed to Mayo-Belwa on special duties, as police authorities in the state battle rising security challenges in the council, before the unfortunate incident.
The gunmen had stormed the area at about 7:00 pm in a convoy of motorcycles, on the prowl of one Idi Babe, The PUNCH gathered.
The source who did not want his name in print explained that “The man whom the gunmen were looking for owned a mansion beside the Mayo Belwa-Jalingo highway.
“Bage was a man known for sartorial splendour as he always dressed immaculately.
“Luckily for him on that fateful day, he did not dress elegantly as he is used to.
“Unfortunately, the MOPOL who wore expensive looking flowing gown in celebration of Christmas was mistaken for the rich man.”
Adamawa State Police Command spokesman, DSP Sulaiman Nguroje, who confirmed the abduction of the policeman, said the force, is doing everything possible to rescue him and arrest the suspects.