Some bandits in the early hours of Sunday raided the staff quarters of the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Centre, Zaria, Kaduna State, and abducted seven persons, including a nursing mother.
It was learnt that the hoodlums also attacked a nearby Saye Police Division.
The incident, a source said, happened around 12.30am.
According to the source, the bandits surrounded the quarters and succeeded in picking five staff members and two others, including a nursing mother.
The source told our correspondent that the bandits targeted the principal of the centre. “The hoodlums also stormed the residence of the principal, but they did not get him. They vandalise the house before they could access it.
The police division was riddled with bullets by the bandits. The operational vhicle was damaged by the gunmen.”
The state police command confirmed the bandits’ invasion on Sunday.
The command’s spokesman, ASP Mohammed Jalige, however, said operatives foiled attack on the Saye Police Division.
He said, “There was a heavy exchange of fire between the bandits and the policemen on duty, but the superior tactical and operational sagacity of the police forced the bandits to retreat and took to their heels, some of whom escaped with bullet injuries.
“Unfortunately as at the same period some group of bandits were attacking the National Centre for Tuberculosis and Leprosy Quarters at same Saye community. Eiight persons were kidnapped.”
Meanwhile, the police spokesman gave an insight as to how suspected Improvised Explosive Device rocked the state on Saturday, killing one and injuring two children.
Jalige explained in a statement issued on Sunday that the explosive device was concealed in three bottle drink children juice.
According to him, three children picked up the bottles, used them as football and forced the device to explode.
Jalige gave the names of three victims as Abubakar Aminu, Abubakar Abdullahi and Abdullahi Abubakar.
