Bandits attack immigration officers, kill one, injure others

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Jigawa State Command, has said its personnel were attacked by suspected bandits in Birniwa Local Government Area of the state, killing one officer while two others were injured.

The NIS Comptroller in Jigawa State, ACG Ismail Abba, disclosed this at a press briefing in Dutse, the state capital on Wednesday evening.

Abba said the incident occurred at about 11:20 p.m. on Tuesday, noting that the bandits attacked one of the NIS patrol bases on Birniwa-Galadi axis.

“The bandits arrived at the base on two motorcycles, one was carrying three persons and the other one was carrying two persons.

“Immediately on arrival, they opened fire on the Immigration staff on patrol, which resulted in the death of one of the staff named Abdullahi Mohammed (CIA) and another two of the team members sustained serious bullet wounds; they are Abba Musa Kiyawa (DSI) and Zubairu Garba (AII).

“As a result of heavy exchange of fire, the bandits fled into the bush and abandoned their motorcycles and handset (Techno T5 mobile phone).

“The 2 motorcycles are Bajaj with chasis no: MD2A18AXS7MWK81092 and Royal with chasis no: RY157FMINILI2607, all now in our custody,” Abba stated.

The NIS Comptroller added the wounded officers were taken to hospital for treatment, while the deceased officer has been buried according to Islamic rites.

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He noted that the abandoned motorcycles and mobile phone would be handed over to police for further investigation and action.

He, however, stated that the remaining three personnel were unhurt during the attack.

“I must commend the officers for their gallantry in repelling the attackers that made them take to their heels and abandoned their motorcycles and phone.

“This shows that the NIS is willing and ever ready to defend the nation and will not relent in the fight against crimes in the state,” Abba added.

He said that the suspects were believed to have come from neighbouring Niger Republic.

“Its just a two kilometre distance between the scene of the incident and a village in Niger.

“Also, from the time we recovered the bandits’ abandoned phone, we received about 10 calls most of which are Niger numbers,” the NIS Comptroller said.

Abba, therefore, urged residents of the state to furnish the command with necessary information of suspicious persons in their communities.